I tell my kids and I tell proteges, always have humility when you create and grace when you succeed, because its not about you. You are a terminal for a higher power. As soon as you accept that, you can do it forever.

I went with Lionel Hampton for three years. Out of that came a trip to Europe.

Im probably the only one in the world you can name thats worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles, Aretha, Michael Jackson, rappers. Fly Me to the Moon was played on the moon by Buzz Aldrin. Sinatra. Paul Simon. Tony Bennett. Im the only one.

Hell, nobody knows where jazz is going to go. There may be a kid right now in Chitlin Switch, Georgia, who is going to come along and upset everybody.

Whenever a woman would come too close, I would cut her off. Part of that was vindictive - but that was totally subconscious.

I'm a great believer in letting lyrics just flow out, wherever they come from.

You Make Your Mistakes To Learn How To Get To The Good Stuff