Let the critics criticize and let the doers do.

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

We started to confuse entertainment with art, because art has a component of entertainment. It has to have that or it becomes too boring. It becomes too lost in its own devices. But I just think that we started to lose, and even before that, it's not necessary.

There are forces all around you who wish to exploit division, rob you of your freedom, and tell you what to think. But young folks can rekindle the weary spirit of a slumbering nation.

Even in these times, there are still neighbors that will turn their backs on neighbors.

There's the tradition in jazz of having the “Battle of the Bands” and you do not want to get your head cut when you're playing.

I feel like a lot of the fundamental material, I've assimilated. So now the question is: Am I going to really get into my spiritual inheritance of music and really develop my abilities?