The only thing my mother would say to me about my music - I'd say, "Mom, listen to this," and she'd say, "Junior, I know who you are."

It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.

Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time.

When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.

For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.

The idea is more important than the style you're playing in.

You don't have to worry about being a number one, number two, or number three. Numbers don't have anything to do with placement. Numbers only have something to do with repetition.

I don't try to please when I play. I try to cure.

Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.

Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.

We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life.

Whatever happens during rainy time, you don't need to wish it to stop just you to be protected because some people needs that. Instead, go for a place where you can consider as your refuge.

It's a strange city... filled with things that are not obvious.

This wholesale invasion of Americans’ and foreign citizens’ privacy does not contribute to our security; it puts in danger the very liberties we’re trying to protect.

She is more beautiful than I have words for. And last night, I was blessed beyond measure to serve her.

It is always the teacher who must learn the most... or else nothing real has happened in the exchange.

Be involved; be informed. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement.

With the blessings of liberty, we have responsibilities to defend it.

Basically, I wear sandals, like Jesus. When it gets cold in Chicago, the snow way up to my knees, I still wear my sandals. But that's me.

Home life is a foreign environment for most guys. So it's natural to show them being idiots at home.