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

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.

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.

In 1994, I started touring again and I recorded two albums for Chesky Jazz.

Train your new employee properly. Sounds so obvious, and yet it often doesn’t happen.

The counsellor who never reads a novel or never opens a book of poetry is neglecting an important resource for empathic development.

Creation which cannot express itself becomes madness.

When we face the worst that can happen in any situation, we grow. When circumstances are at their worst, we can find our best.

They all laughed at Christopher Columbus When he said the world was round.

Life is not black and white. The closes we ever get to either of those colors is wearing them.

Be what you would seem to be.

If you are not following your dreams then you're not truly living, and if you are, you must completely believe in your journey!

Think like a prophet, serve like a priest, and plan like a king.

When I was at school at Paris, I had special lessons from Mademoiselle Antoine, an actress at the Comedie Francaise, and I was taken to every sort of play. I felt very grand.