He was one of the best trumpet players all around the world. He had everything -- technique, stamina, education. |
I spent four hours at the hospital, they ran all the blood tests, all the other ones, and didn't find anything. I still don't know what it was. I feel better, but not back to normal. |
I think maybe it was just depression about all the stuff that happened. All the things we lost. All the disruption. And then you look around and see all the stuff still messed up. It just sort of grinds you down. |
I try to get it out of my mind, but I just keep thinking about things we lost. |
I was improvising before I was reading music. I was just trying to play things on the clarinet by ear. I think my ear is one of my greatest assets. |
I'm feeling better so I want to play. |
If I had grown up in any place but New Orleans, I don't think my career would have taken off. I wouldn't have heard the music that was around this town. There was so much going on when I was a kid. |
The band called me doctor for about two days, then stopped. |
There was no question about doing it. We had a meeting and everybody wanted to march. |
There will never be another like him. He was loved by trumpet players all over the world. |
We found a bracelet and a ring. Everything else was gone. All the things I wanted to leave to my kids. |
What we used to say was whoever had the bow tie got to lead the band. There was never any jealousy. |
You know, it's funny... when you're making money, people don't think you're playing jazz. Now when you're not making money, people think that you're a good jazz musician. |