When you tell them you're a writer, they say, 'What have you written?' And then you've got to tell them what you've done. I don't ask a plumber what he does. Then I have to explain what I've done, and I haven't really, you know. I've just told some stories.
As far as making a living, if plumbing earned more, I'd probably do it. At least you can leave the job at home once the tools are put away. A writer works in his mind 24/7.
My father died in 1957, just before I was born. My mother went to her Jewish aunt, who slammed the door in her face.
Spike Lee listens a lot. He's one of the quietest creative people I've ever met.
Being a best-selling author doesn't make you a millionaire. It's not like Stephen King.
The starting point of all great jazz has got to be format, a language that you can work within that, in some ways, is much tighter than the blues or even gospel. It's all working towards the same destination - the difference being that Miles Davis flew there, and I'm still taking the subway.
People don't realize you're blowing over changes, time changes, harmony, different keys. I mark a point in my solo where it's got to peak at point D I go to A, B, C D then I'm home.
Every time I see something about the Wild West, I'm reminded that our version of history may not be what really happened.