Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing.

Don't settle for style. Succeed in substance.

Jazz is democracy in music.

I'll write down and catalogue all the different devices that are Americana to me, and I try to have a historic depth and breadth and also the things that we do in our time, the type of vamps and chants, things that are available to us.

Having heard Clifford Brown play all those fast runs, I used to really practice Clarke trumpet exercises all day long so that I could play fast. That's all I wanted to do. I was like a child with a toy.

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

The nerves are a problem on trumpet, because when you mess up everyone can hear it. Just remember most people are too polite to say anything about it. That should calm your nerves.