What I am more concerned about is whether our whole civilization will be around in the next 25 years.

Many jazz artists go to L.A. seeking a more comfortable life and then they really stop playing.

Even the most jingoistic person would have to admit that even American cultural music comes from Europe. That's what classical music is, real European music.

I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration for somebody to try to create jazz.

There have been many great musicians that, Clifford Brown is one great example, I mean he died very early, 25.

I simply want to reach a level where I will never cease to make progress...so that, even on the bad evenings, I may never be bad enough to despair.

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