“It seems to me that most people are impressed with just three things: how fast you can play, how high you can play, and how loud you can play.”

I soon became aware that there wasn’t enough time or opportunity to kiss all the girls in the world. The best thing is to stay cool – just be choosy and wait for the right opportunity.

In Europe they look upon jazz as art. In America it’s a diversion. Somebody opens a restaurant and installs another band off to the side. People don’t listen.

People said I’d never make 35, then I’d never make 40, 45; now I’m almost 50, so Im beginning to think maybe they might be wrong.

Artt Frank is my all-time favorite drummer. He always seems to know where I’m going.

Your looks are laughable, unphotographable, yet you’re my favorite work of art. Is your figure less than Greek, is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak, are you smart?

I like to play in the deep register. I was never a high-note specialist. My range goes from the bottom of the horn up to around C or D. High D is about it for me, about two-and-a-half octaves, I think. But in these two-and-a-half octaves, I can say everything I have to say.

The drummer; he inspired me to play like no one else I have ever met.

It takes a pretty good drummer to be better than no drummer at all.