I play piano and drums very poorly and French horn and tuba all equally as bad.

The main three components are the blues, improvisation - which is some kind of element that people are trying to make it up - and swing, which means even though they're making up music, they're trying to make it up together. It feels great, like you're having a great conversation with somebody.

Don't settle for style. Succeed in substance.

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.

Jazz is democracy in music.

Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.

Nothing else will ever capture the democratic process in sound as perfectly as Jazz.