My mother always took my brothers and me to music lessons. There were six children. Our parents attended our concerts and encouraged us to study and enjoy many different types of music.

The history of jazz lets us know that this period in our history is not the only period we've come through together. If we truly understood the history of our national arts, we'd know that we have mutual aspirations, a shared history, in good times and bad.

Only a few act - the rest of us reap the benefits of their risk.

The best way to be, is to do.

So when we spend all of our time trying to separate that which is already joined, it's a waste of time.

I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that time.

We learn a language through its song, and even if you don't have music you have the song of people you love's voice, and you'll notice that song in their voice.