I feel that Jazz improvisation is the ultimate. You have to create on the spot, the essence of this music.

I guess I'm fortunate that I'm still around and I emphasize 'I guess', because you never can tell what musicians would be playing had they been around as long as I have.

I am interested in my music lasting only while I'm alive. I'm not writing for the future.

I'm fortunate that I'm making a living at it now because I'm not equipped to do anything else.

Jazz is the type of music that can absorb so many things and still be jazz.

I feel that I have an obligation to jazz and also to myself to play as good as I can play.

I'm now a legend, whether I want to be or not.