Swing will never sound as good as it did in the '40s.

I understand that transposing a song a half step can effect the believability of a lyric.

I've always loved musical theater. It's a bit of a family tradition.

Musicians from the beginning of time have been there to express the mood and the musical feelings in the air for whatever's going on in that particular culture. It's the greatest joy as a musician to be able to translate that, be part of something and watch the scenery around you.

Music is a spiritual expression of what's in your heart. Music as a way of getting rich is a pretty new thing, and I often wonder if the mega-bucks glitzy atmosphere is making the quality of music suffer. You have to work really hard to get around that and remember why you're in it in the first place: because you have to be. It's like an addiction. You can't go a day without picking up your guitar. To me, the only commercial goals that are really valid are, 'Boy, I wish I didn't have to go to work. I wish I could do this all the time.'

Set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul. You've got to run like an antelope, out of control.

I absolutely love the Philharmonic. I also love rock guitar.