My Music Is Evidence Of My Souls

I'm Trying To Play The Truth Of What I Am. The Reason It's Difficult Is Because I'm Changing All The Time.

It (jazz) Isn't Like It Used To Be. The Guys Aren't Together. They're All Separated. Individuals Now. Bird Was A Symbol. It Was A Clique, A Clique Of People. Who All Believed In One Thing: Gettin' High. And Playin'.

I Was Always Doing Revolutionary Things, Things That Would Alert People, So They Would Stop Being So Subservient.

I'm Too Busy Playing. When I'm Playing I Don't Pay Attention To Who's Listening. When I Was Listening I Listened To Symphony Orchestras, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Stravinsky. You Don't Listen To One Instrument; You Listen To Music.

Our Nights Didn't Begin Until After Noon. Because In The Old Days, You'd Start Birdland At 8:30 Or 9 Pm And Play Until 4 In The Morning. Then You'd Go Out To The Corner And Talk To A Couple Of Musicians - I Used To Talk To Oscar Pettiford A Whole Lot - You'd Stand There Till 7, 8 Or 9, Or Else Go Down To The Jam Session At Minton's.