I never have any trouble playing anything I can think of. The trouble is in thinking of what to play.

I came from an era when we didn't use electronic instruments. The bass wasn't even amplified. The sound was the sound you got.

You can read all the textbooks and listen to all the records, but you have to play with musicians that are better than you.

My dark sound could be heard across a room clearer than somebody with a reedy sound. It had more projection. My sound always seemed to fill a room.

Hearing myself so much all the time, I don't think I sound that special all the time because it's me.

Switch to piano! No. Really, if you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it's like the human voice. Of course, it would be best if you could actually sing with your own voice. The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. Therefore, the challenge is to sing on an imperfect instrument or 'voice' that is outside of your body. I love that challenge and have for over forty-five years. As far as playing jazz, no other art form, other than conversation, can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction.

I compulsively reach for perfection in music, often at the expense of everything else in my life.