To play today in London, next week in Madrid and the week after that in Warsaw is a bit better than playing Newark and Baltimore and Philadelphia. I've been doing that for 20 years.

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

As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.

The whole reason for Jazz at the Philharmonic was to take it to places where I could break down segregation.

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

Jazz was uplifted by what I did.

Ellington is a writer and arranger, as well as a musician and leader. He does movie sound tracks.