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

I feel that L.A. has not always been my strongest base for support. That can be for various reasons.

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

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

We have to make ourselves as perfect as we can.

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.

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.