Don't be a perfectionist... leave that to the classical musicians..

Jazz is about freedom within discipline. Usually a dictatorship like in Russia and Germany will prevent jazz from being played because it just seemed….

Art may not have the power to change the course of history, but it can provide a perspective on historical events that needs to be heard, even if it'….

There's a way of playing safe, there's a way of using tricks and there's the way I like to play which is dangerously where you're going to take a cha….

I got a poster from Columbia Records, and there's Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus, Ellington, Count Basie - everybody in that poster has died, I'm the on….

Kinship doesn't come from skin color. It's in your soul and your mind..

I don't think you can separate a person's "style" and his persona. If you're writing or improvising honestly, you will inevitably reflect who you are..

I’m beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when I was 20 rather than when I was 82..

When things are going well, I hate to quit..

I'm always hoping for the nights that are inspired where you almost have an out of body experience.

I have more energy at the end than I do at the beginning. You can be so beat up that you can scarcely walk on stage but when you get to the piano the….

It's like a whole orchestra, the piano for me..

Damn it, when I'm bombastic, I have my reasons. I want to be bombastic-take it or leave it..

Jazz is about freedom within discipline..

The worst thing about the life of a jazz musician on the road is getting to the gig. Once you're there and playing, it's marvelous..

Probably the most profound thing in the Bible is 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.' This is what, to me, is the essence of Christian….

We don't know the power that's within our own bodies.

I wasn't allowed to play in some universities in the United States and out of twenty-five concerts, twenty-three were canceled unless I would substit….

Many people don't understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz... And that is really the idea of democracy - freedom within the Constitutio….

Jazz stands for freedom. It's supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don't be a perfectionist - leav….

One of the reasons I believe in jazz is that the oneness of man can come through the rhythm of your heart. It’s the same anyplace in the world, that ….