I worry more about the marketing that's taken hold since the 70s. The Jazz era, the Swing era, those were huge. Entire decades were named for music. In the 1940s - after World War II - changes in taxation, ballrooms closing, people moving to the suburbs, and the onset of target marketing and the confusion of commerce with art caused some things to happen as a result that have taken us away from jazz and what jazz offers us.

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.

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

Love is the spiritual essence of what we do. Technique is the manifestation of the preparation and investment as a result of the love.

Don't wish for someone else to do later what you can do now.

I dress up a certain way because I respect the music.

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