I made it easier for many artists to play in certain areas.

At Verve, my bookkeeper would invariably say, 'Well, why do you want to put out Roy Eldridge?' Or 'Why do you want to put out Ben Webster? They don't sell.' And I'd say, 'Well, whether they sell or not, they're important, they should be recorded and they're what Verve stands for, so we don't have to discuss that any further.

There are very few groups that really stay together. The leaders of groups make enough money to be able to afford to work a maximum of 35-40 weeks a year.

For years, Jazz At The Philharmonic albums were the only ones of their kind.

I don't know who's 18 years old today that, 20 years hence, is going to be a jazz fan.

The history of all big jazz bands shows was, first they played for dancing, and then they played for singing.

I'm talking as a professional impresario. I'm not judging anybody at all.