My mother came from St. Thomas. I heard that melody and all I did was actually adapt it. I made my adaptation of sort of an island traditional melody. It did become sort of my trademark tune.

I am a person who thinks about the music first in trying to achieve something musically valid.

But if I didn't have to make money, I would still play my horn.

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

I think music should be judged on what it is. It should be very high and above everything else. It is a beautiful way of bringing people together, a little bit of an oasis in this messed-up world.

Charlie Parker stuck out in my mind.

America is deeply rooted in Negro culture: its colloquialisms; its humor; its music.