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 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 don't want to appear hostile, like I'm hostile to L.A. or that I feel that the people don't appreciate jazz. I don't think it's that. I think it's something more. It's something a little bit more complicated than that.

I think the problem starts with the general appreciation of the music in the larger society.

Music represents nature. Nature represents life. Jazz represents nature. Jazz is life.

Jazz never ends... it just continues.

One very important thing I learned from Monk was his complete dedication to music. That was his reason for being alive. Nothing else mattered except music, really.