When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.

I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am one thing, a musician.

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 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.

Somebody, my daughter or my wife, gave me a music box for Christmas. It plays "My Funny Valentine" on celeste, you know? So I had Bobby [Irving] just play "Jean Pierre" with the changes on celeste.

Jazz musicians are so comfortable. The reason they can't do what we do is because they're so comfortable doin' what they do.

The music has gotten thick. Guys give me tunes and they're full of chords. I can't play them...I think a movement in jazz is beginning away from the conventional string of chords, and a return to emphasis on melodic rather than harmonic variation. There will be fewer chords but infinite possibilities as to what to do with them.