I Wanted To Be Like My Father,

Many People Don't Understand How Disciplined You Have To Be To Play Jazz... And That Is Really The Idea Of Democracy - Freedom Within The Constitution Or Discipline. You Don't Just Get Out There And Do Anything You Want.

Damn It, When I'm Bombastic, I Have My Reasons. I Want To Be Bombastic-take It Or Leave It.

Over The Years I've Had Strong Friendships With Many Priests. As A Matter Of Fact, A Group Of Christian Leaders From The National Council Of Churches Came To My House In The 1950s To Ask Me To Write Music For A Mass. I Didn't Think I Was Ready At That Time. So, In A Sense, I Guess Joining The Church And Writing The Mass Was A Culmination Of A Long Journey That Is Still Going On.

Most Of The International Acceptance Of Jazz Education Can Be Traced To The University Of North Texas, Denton, Texas, And The Wonderful Program They Inaugurated.

I Had The First Integrated Army Band In World War Ii.