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?

Trumpet players are just belligerant, and cocky, and you know, just hard-headed.

The reason why the music [jazz] is important is because it's an art form-an ancient art form-that takes in the mythology of our people.

When I auditioned for my high school band the band director was excited because my father was known to be a great musician. When he heard me, he said 'Are you sure you're Ellis's son?'

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

Young kids are always singing and painting. When you get to that second and third grade level, you're supposed to put all that aside.

No particular music makes me feel nostalgic. If it's great, it just keeps me in the present moment. That level of music is like a classic story, like the Iliad-something so perfect it can never be old.