To do it always right, that is what music is to me.

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.

Your actions should be so dedicated that no one should have to ask you what you want.

Once you love something, you always love it in someway. You have to. it's like, part of you for good.

At Juilliard, I couldn't afford to have fun. I went to school and stayed home.

For not an orphan in the wide world can be so deserted as the child who is an outcast from a living parent's love.

To die is to go into the Collective Unconscious, to lose oneself in order to be transformed into form, pure form.

I cannot but think it an evil sign of a people when their houses are built to last for one generation only.

You risk working with this director, you risk making this movie, you risk working with another actor you don't know. It makes your heart beat faster. And it keeps you interested.

People used to have time to live and enjoy themselves, but there is no time anymore for anything but work, work, work.

Bikram Yoga is the first time you start loving yourself because it is the first time you start seeing yourself.

Your "if" is the only peacemaker; much virtue in "if.