It’s all music.
Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It’s not an occupation or profession, it’s a compulsion.
My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.
By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with.
Music is what I hear and something that I live by.
A goal is a dream with a finish line.
A problem is a chance for you to do your best.
Well if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn’t play like Wynton.
You have to practice improvisation, let no one kid you about it!
If you must listen to bad music, please use headphones.
Wes Montgomery played impossible things on the guitar because it was never pointed out to him that they were impossible.
To this day, I don’t like people walking on stage not looking good. You have to look good. If you feel special about yourself then you’re going to play special.
I would like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.
Jazz? has no boundaries.
People always ask, “Why jazz?” and I’m like “Why not?” It’s kind of like asking Seurat, “Why so many dots?” I imagine if you asked Bjork, “Why the Tibetan bells?” She’d probably be like “That’s just what I heard.” It’s the same thing. This is just the way I see music.
I can play all I know in eight bars.
The genius of our country is improvisation, and jazz reflects that. It’s our great contribution to the arts.
The greatest thing about music is putting it out there for people to figure out.
Man, as long as people want to hear Jazz, I’ll give it to them.
I wanted to make somebody feel like Coltrane made me feel.
When you sing, always tell the truth.
All I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel… and that’s what I’ve been doing all my life.
