My music has always been strong in melodic content.

My brother had a big band in high school; after that we continued to play together, eventually forming a group called the Jazz Brothers, that recorded for Riverside Records.

Music is meant to be a beautiful thing.

I write music people enjoy playing and listening to, and I have a group that loves playing the music.

I tend to not want to put labels or categories on the music, only because people come with preconceived ideas about what they're going to hear, or won't come for this reason.

I was blessed to work with The Jazz Messengers when the two piano players were Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.

A studio recording is perfection, but emotion and passion come only when you turn on the machine and go for the groove. If you do that with no mistakes, it sounds beautiful.

Whether it's string writing or whatever, I try to write for what each instrumentalist can do best.

I am glad that I wrote something that brought joy to millions of people.

1972 was a year of many pleasant and rewarding experiences for me

Brazilian music has many of the ingredients that I strive for in my own music: Strong melodies and a disciplined but intense rhythmic concept, and interesting harmonies.

Venture deep into the wilderness of lost thought to the point that you physically shiver with apprehension, and there you will find creativity

Respect yourself if you would have others respect you.

Here is the manliness of manhood, that a man has a good reason for what he does, and has a will in doing it.

I'm trying to show by my actions that you can make a far better world if you just care enough. That's all you have to do. It's no big deal. One act of kindness a day can do it.

All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others.

There's only one Elizabeth like me and that's the Queen.

Disciples do owe their masters only a temporary belief, and a suspension of their own judgment till they be fully instructed.

The photograph that discovers and uncovers the world is harder to simulate than an image that simply illustrates one's ideas about it.

When you are in the public eye you cannot afford to show doubts. I do my crying alone.

In our dreams lies our unfinished work for the world.