Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all the periods.

In some ways Lester Young is the most complex rhythmically of any musician. He does some things which are just phenomenal.

I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The clarinet was what we call a double.

Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.

I love Indian music very much, but I haven't studied that specifically.

I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don't want to know that. I just want to know that there's a combination of notes that makes a sound.

Most jazz players work out their solos, at least to the extent that they have a very specific vocabulary.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be Jazz.

After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.

A first love always occupies a special place.

I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.

We all have the innate capacity to feel free.

She had a grocer's faith in books

It was not the people or the Roman soldiers who put [Jesus] on the cross—it was your sins and my sins that made it necessary for Him to volunteer his death.

Irony: Taking a 170-year-old envy-based "philosophy, " which has led to the murder of several hundred million human beings and the oppression of billions more, and calling it "progressive".

The hopeful man sees success where others see failure sunshine where others see shadows and storm.

It doesn't bother me that I'm not a household word on the East Coast. Baton Rouge, Raleigh, Minneapolis - I'm so popular in these cities where you've never imagined an East Coast comedian working.

The contempt of money is no more a virtue than to wash one's hand is one; but one does not willingly shake hands with a man that never washes his.

I think we had a Ben Webster/Gerry Mulligan record... that might have been it. We only had a few records in the house.

One can't help but be a bit melancholy when you see how the world has changed, and I don't mean that nostalgically.

To accept on faith is the basic requirement for getting on with life.