Everything about the swing is about some guideline and some grid and the elegant way that you negotiate your way through that grid.

Music is always for the listener, but the first listener is always the musician

The first jazz musician was a trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, and the last will be a trumpeter, the archangel Gabriel.

People have taken time out of their day and spent their money to come sit down at a concert. And it's jazz music-it's not easy for them to get to it. I don't want them ever to feel that I'm taking their presence lightly.

Certain music, jazz in particular, has the ability to make you a better citizen of the world. It helps you expand your world view and gives you more confidence in your cultural achievements. Improvisational jazz teaches you about yourself while the swing in jazz teaches you how to work with others

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

My schedule is always tight. But I like to have the pressure of having to finish doing something; it gives me an added edge.