I cannot play a lie. I have to believe in what I play or it won't come out.

The saxophone is actually a translation of the human voice, in my conception. All you can do is play melody. No matter how complicated it gets, it's still a melody.

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

The value of jazz still has to be clarified. People involve themselves with its superficialities without digging for its soul.

Records used to be documents, but now record companies want product.

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

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