“Jazz is a word they use to sell our music, but to me that word does not exist.”

All of the technique doesn’t matter only if the feeling is right.

Starting in the middle of a musical sentence and moving in both directions at once.

There are so many things to be considered in making music. The whole question of life itself… I know that I want to produce beautiful music, music that does things to people that they need.

The first time I heard Bird play, it hit me right between the eyes.

You can play a shoestring if you’re sincere.

One positive thought produces millions of positive vibrations.

I want to be a force for real good. In other words, I know there are bad forces. You know, I know that there are forces out here that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.

Sometimes I think I was making music through the wrong end of a magnifying glass.

Don’t ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person.

I believe that men are here to grow themselves into the best good that they can be – at least, this is what I want to do.

God breathes through us so completely, So gently we hardly feel it, yet it is our everything.

My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being…When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups…I want to speak to their souls.

I think I was first awakened to musical exploration by Dizzy Gillespie and Bird. It was through their work that I began to learn about musical structures and the more theoretical aspects of music.

Sometimes I wish I could walk up to my music for the first time, as if I had never heard it before.

Working with Monk is like falling down a dark elevator shaft.

All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.

What Christ gives us is quite explicit if his own words are interpreted according to their Aramaic meaning. The expression ‘This is my Body’ means this is myself.

I do not prize the word cheap. It is not a word of inspiration. It is the badge of poverty, the signal of distress. Cheap merchandise means cheap men and cheap men mean a cheap country.

Cardi actually says stuff. Nicki just has attitude. So what. Big deal.

I’m a man of my word.

The Word of God spoke into the dry bones. His breath filled them, put tendons (repair), and put skin on…Then you will know I am God…When Jesus comes that will happen.

In the story, I was the woman of words, where you couldn’t be a man of actions. At least my words weren’t a lie.

My goal is to never let negativity win. Of course, I am not perfect and I have my moments, as does everyone, but negativity will never have the last word.

When words fail, tears well.