Communications are making this one world. Back in the day, 400-500 years ago, nobody knew what anyone else was doing. It's on the 6 O'Clock news now. Now we can say, Oh, that's the way they live. Oh, they do that!! Opportunities, the chance to bring about change, it's all based on communication. Communication and jet planes.

Playing the game, and unfortunately, playing the gangster game is very profitable.

Count Basie practically adopted me at 13. We became closer and closer and I ended up conducting for him and Sinatra.

The process is the most beautiful part.

Billy Strayhorn wrote Multicolored Blue. Billy to me is the boss of the arrangers.

I improvised my life along the way - I just moved step-by-step. And I knew that if I got better, something would happen.

If you started in New York you were dealing with the biggest guys in the world. You're dealing with Charlie Parker and all the big bands and everything. We got more experience working in Seattle.