The music field was the first to break down racial barriers, because in order to play together, you have to love the people you are playing with, and if you have any racial inhibitions, you wouldn't be able to do that.

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

He's not a performer, he's not a composer, he's not even a musician, but Norman Granz is Mr. Jazz.

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.

I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea.

I despair about the lack of proper respect shown for the piano. If you want it to sound like a traffic jam, go out in the street and forget the piano. That's not a piano sound.

We're not like pop musicians who have to perform the same top ten tunes every night of a tour.