Smokin' at the Half Note is the absolute greatest jazz-guitar album ever made. It is also the record that taught me how to play.

I just have never seen anyone build anything significant in any field without having a deep and detailed sense of what they are building on.

If jazz has to be termed as a wave, then music is a sea, but if the reflectors in the water is the chord.

I met Gary (Burton) at the Wichita Jazz Festival when I was 18 -- he was one of my favorite musicians and I got to play a few tunes with him there. Shortly after that, I joined his band, which was the equivalent of joining the Beatles for me! He was, and still is, one of the greatest musicians I have ever been lucky enough to be around.

Listening is the key to everything good in music.

One very fundamental thing has not changed and I realized that it will never change... is that I really need to go home and practice.

Jazz music will continue to thrive, possibly in unexpected ways.