I've met a lot of jazz musicians in my day, and they're all funny. Cannonball Adderley was a riot, Miles [Miles Davis] had the most dry sense of humor ever, always had something clever to say. I think what is is is jazz musicians - they're so careful about what notes they play, everything they do is to impress the listener. And that's what comedy is. Comedy is the ultimate truth. Jazz is hitting the notes that that no one else would hit, and comedy is saying words that no one else would say. And Gaye was the master. He was really just a special guy. Show less «

[on his mother] She really helped me. The thing about her, she was a white woman and she was married to my dad who was Chinese, and she said "Remember this: you're mixed so people are always going to look at you, they're going to notice you. So it's up to you how you conduct yourself, but you're going to be noticed." Show less «

[on guitarist Gaye Delorme] When people used to see Coltrane play, sax players would run out of the clubs going 'I quit! I'll never play again! I can't take it!. On a quieter scale, that's exactly how Gaye mad me feel. He had a neat little trick. All good musicians do. He said, 'Can I sit in, and do you mind if if I can borrow your guitar?' And then he took the same instrument that I'd been struggling with and make it sound like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, all rolled in one. Show less «

The trouble when you're doing something illegal is that you know what you're doing. You're lying to your parents, you're lying to your kids. The only person you can't lie to is yourself. Show less «