Whoever has an original thing to say, it is sort of a threat to the status quo.

In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.

There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people go out and learn a particular language or style and become real sharks on somebody else's language.

I started in New Orleans music and played all through the history of jazz.

It's very important to go through periods where you sound just rotten and you know it, and you have to persevere or give up.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite. Saxophone can be tedious with too much of the same.