I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be.

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

You know, when I'm playing, I think of myself in front of the Wailing Wall with a saxophone in my hands, and I'm davening, I'm really telling it to the Wall.

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

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.

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

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