My wife, Gayle, is a wonderful musician and singer. We share music, so it's a deep bond.

My one thing is I continue to be interested and want to be a student. I don't want to be a master. When I'm learning something, I'm in my element.

I searched through rebellion, drugs, diet, mysticism, religion, intellectualism and much more, only to begin to find that truth is basically simple and feels good, clear and right.

I no longer wanted to satisfy myself. I really want to connect with the world and make my music mean something to people.

You've got to create the space, then fill it.

Without a doubt, my richest relationships are my long-term friendships with musical partners, because we make music together. That's what we love to do with our lives.

Only a spiritual being has awareness.

I got a chance to listen to and watch Thelonious Monk and his quartet play two shows a night, for six weeks. It was a great education. There was my university, man.

It's one thing to just play a tune, or play a program of music, but it's another thing to practically create a new language of music, which is what 'Kind of Blue' did.

I decided that I didn't want to spend my time in a liberal arts college.

I've noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.

The practice of radical forgiveness, the extension of compassion-this is grace.

Because even when there is no hope, somehow you can still find a place to pin inside the things that you need.

A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead.

What hurts the most is being misunderstood. They tell me that's an Aquarian trait - that that's the thing we don't like.

If Somebody disrespects me they will pay for it. I promise

Roger Fry is painting me. It is too like me at present, but he is confident he will be able to alter that. Post-Impressionism is at present confined to my lower lip... and to my chin.

Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom, no longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from. Fill your life with love and bravery, and you shall live a life uncommon.

Vocabulary enables us to interpret and to express. If you have a limited vocabulary, you will also have a limited vision and a limited future.

If you still think you're a young pup then you are, no matter what the calendar says

To drive free, to love free, to court destruction with taunts, to feed the remainder of life with one hour of fullness and freedom - one brief hour of madness and joy.