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

I always like to play very contemporary concepts of swing right next to New Orleans music because it highlights continuum.

Whenever you face a man who's playing your instrument, there's a competition.

New Orleans - the real New Orleans - is the soul of the country.

I wanted to make somebody feel like Coltrane made me feel, listening to it.

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

Benny Goodman's band was integrated before baseball. Even before it was physically integrated, music was integrated. Everyone listened to Armstrong and Ellington. The 20s was called the Jazz Age. It's part of being American.