I'm a recovered alcoholic. I don't do anything anymore, but those things, those things take away ... You're a different personality completely when you take those. For those who are really chemically dependent on anything, it's not you.

I learn something new every day.

If you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it's like the human voice.

There are four qualities essential to a great jazzman. they are taste, courage, individuality, and irreverence.

I appreciate men like Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins very much.

You don't rehearse jazz to death to get the camera angles.

The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. The challenge is to sing on an imperfect instrument that is outside of your body.