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.

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

It’s like a language. You learn the alphabet, which are the scales. You learn sentences, which are the chords. And then you talk extemporaneously with the horn. It’s a wonderful thing to speak extemporaneously, which is something I’ve never gotten the hang of. But musically I love to talk just off the top of my head. And that’s what jazz music is all about.

I've done some dastardly things but what can I do except make amends and apologize?

I learn something new every day - to edit, to take out all the extraneous matter and stress form, logic, and content. I try to play beautiful music.

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

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