Montreal was a very active jazz center until club owners started putting in strippers instead of music. Before long, there was nothing to hear.

I don't do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn't care less. If it sells one, it sells one.

If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

I'm a musician and, just as the critics are hard on me, I'm hard on the critics.

Sweets [Edison] can say more with one note than any other Jazz player alive... an approach that stresses simplicity, glorious tone, natural potency and an unmatched affinity. He is a unique stylist in our music.

Too many jazz pianists limit themselves to a personal style, a trademark, so to speak. They confine themselves to one type of playing. I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea. I have no one style. I play as I feel.

Louie Bellson represents the epitome of musical talent. His ability to cover the whole musical spectrum from an elite percussionist to a very gifted composer and arranger never ceases to amaze me. I consider him one of the musical giants of our age.