I didn't have a philosophical understanding of music until I came to New York. I didn't understand how it applied to my kind and my generation. I thought it was just old people talking.

Maybe the preoccupation with technological progress has overshadowed our concern with human progress.

I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for my opinions to join all the other opinions. But you have to be prepared for what comes back, especially if you don't agree with the dominant mythology.

I believe in professionalism, but playing is not like a job. You have to be grateful to have the opportunity to play.

Don't settle for style. Succeed in substance.

We all teach from that same frame of reference. We're like neighborhood - the people who have had the opportunity through this music to gain a platform and spread the message of this music, which is basically love in a form of communication that's honest and truthful.

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