I'm seeking to have an art that is engaged as a way for saying, 'Hurray for unity.

Is jazz a rhythm, or is it a vibration?

Everybody in America is angry about something.

I am interested in the study of music and the discipline of music and the experience of music and music as a esoteric mechanism to continue my real intentions.

I have learned through time that not everyone is interested in the kinds of things that fascinate me.

The word music is a convenient way to talk about what I'm interested in, but actually, in some ways, it's a limitation.

I would find myself backing away from all of the 'isms,' all of the communities. I have always been able to be misused by every community But that is OK. I would rather be misused than neglected.

I thank the Creator of the universe to have discovered the discipline of music was the greatest gift that I could have been given, the possibility to be a student working in the world.

My work has been marginalized as far as the jazz-business complex is concerned, or the contemporary-music complex.

I am viewed as the Negro who has gone outside of the categories assigned to me.

I know I’m an African-American, and I know I play the saxophone, but I’m not a jazz musician. I’m not a classical musician, either. My music is like my life: It’s in between these areas.

History isn't written by the winners OR the losers

If you have talented and motivated people, they should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority.

Inspiration never arrived when you were searching for it.

What kind of wonderful God is this who reaches down into the lives of people, picks them up, grants them faith, and changes them!

Once someone has had the good fortune to share a true love affair with a Golden Retriever, one's life and one's outlook is never quite the same.

Disloyalty in trusted servants is one of the most disheartening things that can happen to a public performer.

You have only so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one.

Rich kids who write songs about food stamps always piss me off. I'm not going to write any songs about that, either.

Two things I ain't ever seen, a U.F.O. and a hoe that won't go.

If you can't take the heat, don't tickle the dragon.