If I don't play for a while, it's just like getting hungry.

We were all influenced by Lester [Young]. Listen to the records that he made with [Count] Basie. Nobody's got what he's got. He's still the daddy.

Ninety-five percent of my audience was white.

If I can't play music, what am I gonna do? Music keeps people sane. When you enjoy yourself, most of the time the people who are listening to you enjoy it.

I just take a tune and play it the only way I can. That's it. I don't really dwell on it very much. Some people probably do. I can only say I play it the way I feel it.

As long as you've got your horn in your mouth, you're developing.

If I don't play for a while, it's just like getting hungry.