In other words, an instrument should be an extension of you; it's supposed to sound like you - the way you walk, the way you dress, you know.

My ego only needs a good rhythm section

You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.

You have to be born with it. You can't even buy it. If you could buy it, they'd have it at the next Newport Festival.

It took me twenty years study and practice to work up to what I wanted to play in this performance. How can she expect to listen five minutes and understand it?

I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.

Monk was a gentle person, gentle and beautiful, but he was strong as an ox. And if I had ever said something about punching Monk out in front of his face - and I never did - then somebody should have just come and got me and taken me to the madhouse, because Monk could have just picked my little ass up and thrown me through a wall.