I Prefer No One To Teach Me.

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 Heartbeat. It’s The First Thing You Hear When You’re Born — Or Before You’re Born — And It’s The Last Thing You Hear.

When I Was 20, Shostakovich Was My Favorite Composer. I Still Find His Fifth Symphony Wonderful, With Its Outstanding Themes And Rhythms. That's The Piece That Made Me Want To Be A Classical Composer.

Jazz Isn't Dead Yet. It's The Underpinning Of Everything In This Country. Whether It's A Broadway Show, Or Fusion, Or Right On Through Classical Music, If It's Coming Out Of The U.s., It's Not Going To Survive Unless It's Got Some Jazz Influence.

The Secret Of A Great Melody Is A Secret.

You Have To Be Taught To Hate.