The guitar chose me.
A person should design the way he makes a living around how he wishes to make a life.
In my opinion, I think sarcasm and humor in a song, without turning it into a novelty song, is really charming.
You want the audience to feel what you’re doing.
Life is a lot like jazz. It’s best when you improvise.
When I got started in New York, if you were different from Miles and Dizzy it was very difficult.
10% of musicians make 90% of the money, while the remaining 90% of musicians make the 10% that’s left.
All the music that was ever heard came from the inner silence in every musician.
Blues is a tonic for whatever ails you. I could play the blues and then not be blue anymore.
I’ve always wanted a C trumpet on top, to have that same kind of facility without shouting.
What I look for in concert is a connection with the audience.
I’ve had a lot of things to be proud of in my life, but none more than the Jazz festival.
A great symphony is a man-made Mississippi down which we irresistibly flow from the instant of our leave-taking to a long forseen destination.
The thing I always default to is that I’ll always be here to write songs.
My music had roots which I’d dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.
I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea.
People will always need love, romance, a tender touch and really personal and deeply felt music.
