There are all kinds of things that can be done. You can change rhythms, you can change chords, you can change whole concepts. But it will only work, on a record or in a performance, if you can make the people buy it.

Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.

I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.

When I was studying... there weren't any black concert pianists. My choices were intuitive, and I had the technique to do it. People have heard my music and heard the classic in it, so I have become known as a black classical pianist.

I'm a real rebel with a cause.

Once I understood Bach's music, I wanted to be a concert pianist. Bach made me dedicate my life to music, and it was that teacher who introduced me to his world.

Tomorrow, I might be in a different mood and you wouldn't recognize my voice.