Jazz is America's own. It is played and listened to by all peoples - in harmony together. Pigmentation differences have no place... as in genuine democracy, only performance counts.

I don't want to sound as if I'm doing something tremendously special. But I am a jazz fan.

If you don't get substantially what you want, be ready to walk. And don't look back.

My juices needed restoring. I needed a sabbatical from the record business.

My function at Verve was that of a genuine producer in artists and repertoire.

Jazz was uplifted by what I did.

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