Our culture is what we did together. What did Walt Whitman represent for all of us? What was his message to us? That is an inheritance, and when we squander that inheritance we act outside. We don't know who we are; we don't know where we are.

The nerves are a problem on trumpet, because when you mess up everyone can hear it. Just remember most people are too polite to say anything about it. That should calm your nerves.

I believe in professionalism, but playing is not like a job. You have to be grateful to have the opportunity to play.

Benny Goodman's band was integrated before baseball. Even before it was physically integrated, music was integrated. Everyone listened to Armstrong and Ellington. The 20s was called the Jazz Age. It's part of being American.

I have friends who will critique me much harder than any review.

This music heals people because music is vibration, and the proper vibration heals.

The musicians I respected were much older than me. I expected them to cut my head, and they did.