Monk taught me more about music composition than anyone else on 52nd Street.

Keith, how does it feel to be a genius?

That's the way women do. The frown. They want to give you the attitude to approach them back, by giving you a negative vibe.

I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each other, were true because Bach had also composed that way.

I mean, it makes me sick when I see a white man sitting there smiling at me being entertaining, man. When I know what he's gonna do after he gets through. You know, when you see that thing on their face - like: "Entertain me." You know what I mean? Even the black guy that's trying to be white - even he can have that crap on his face.

Coltrane, you cant play everything at once!

Trane was the perfect saxophonist for Monk's music because of the space that Monk always used. Trane could fill up all that space with all them chords and sounds he was playing then.