Not compromising the music, but there is a way, by just showing the people that you're sincere and honest with what you're doing, and by talking to them.

Not with the Rochester Philharmonic, but I formed my own orchestra, made up of musicians from the Eastman School, where I'm on the faculty now, direct the Jazz Ensemble and teach improvisation classes.

The hiatus you spoke about happened in 1998. I was somewhat numb from being out on the road every night. I had to stop because I was emotionally and physically drained.

There's not much in the way of written-down arrangements - just things that Gerry and I have worked out, from playing spontaneously together and hanging on to whatever seems to fall in right.

To pay 60 musicians for rehearsal and performance is quite something, and I decided I wouldn't be able to handle that kind of situation financially again, unless somebody else was taking care of that end of it.

What's happened - in our country, anyhow - is that the young people have shied away from the formality of the concert hall, that tie - and - tails philharmonic image.

With four people you can create one very strong kind of energy, but if you can get 65 people working together, and swinging together, that's a whole other kind of energy.

Most recently we've been working in concert situations rather than clubs. because there aren't too many rooms there like Ronnie Scott's, that are pure music rooms, where people come specifically to listen to music.

1972 was a year of many pleasant and rewarding experiences for me:

Because I don't believe music can be free unless it has something to be free from.

I am glad that I wrote something that brought joy to millions of people.

I can count on one hand the number of instrumental hits there have been over the last ten years.

I find it very difficult to compose when I'm not playing.

I have been recording for five decades now.

I was blessed to work with The Jazz Messengers when the two piano players were Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.

I write music people enjoy playing and listening to, and I have a group that loves playing the music.

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

Music is meant to be a beautiful thing.

My goal was never to sell many records.

My music has always been strong in melodic content.