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

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.

The economic picture in the States today doesn't allow for jazz concerts in a tour fashion. People now are too used to the Festival, which gives them more names for the same price.

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

I don't think that jazz, as any kind of an art form, has any permanence attached to it, apart from the practitioners of it.

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 still continue to do at least four concert tours a year, and in many cases, as many as six.