“Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy's playing blues like we play, he's in high school. When he starts playing jazz it's like going on to college, to a school of higher learning.”
“I got a chance to ride today on a very nice bus and from my window I can see how beautiful this country is and how nice it is to be alive and that to me is like extra vitamins.”
“The way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs. I'll keep playing until I feel like I can't.”
“I think the clock is ticking, yes. In fact, I know it is. Frank Sinatra sang about the September of (his) years. I think I'm in the November of my years.”