I made many studio albums and I think the danger of studio recording is that if you do not watch out, you come out with a perfectly sterile performance.

My brother had a big band in high school; after that we continued to play together, eventually forming a group called the Jazz Brothers, that recorded for Riverside Records.

Music is meant to be a beautiful thing.

I write music people enjoy playing and listening to, and I have a group that loves playing the music.

I tend to not want to put labels or categories on the music, only because people come with preconceived ideas about what they're going to hear, or won't come for this reason.

I was blessed to work with The Jazz Messengers when the two piano players were Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.

A studio recording is perfection, but emotion and passion come only when you turn on the machine and go for the groove. If you do that with no mistakes, it sounds beautiful.

Whether it's string writing or whatever, I try to write for what each instrumentalist can do best.

I am glad that I wrote something that brought joy to millions of people.

1972 was a year of many pleasant and rewarding experiences for me

Brazilian music has many of the ingredients that I strive for in my own music: Strong melodies and a disciplined but intense rhythmic concept, and interesting harmonies.

You owe it to yourself, to refuse to surrender to obstacles that are meant to stop you from reaching far in your endeavours. Be determined that you will never be a captive of your environment.

Alas the Master; so he sinks in death. But whoso knows the mystery of man Sees life and death as curves of the same plan

I always knew mum loved me - tough, look-after-yourself love, as if she knew she wouldn't always be there.

Your memories from your early childhood seem to have such purchase on your emotions. They are so concrete.

The earth is, of course, not the geometric center of the universe. But it is certainly the center of our lives.

When the Lord commands that we must forgive all men, that includes forgiving ourselves.

I don't go out looking for pictures. I go out, and if something catches my eye, that's reason enough to photograph it.

A man’s first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart.

It is sometimes easier to have furniture made than to find things.

It takes courage to realize that you are greater than your moods, greater than your thoughts, and that you can control your moods and thoughts.