"I enjoy playing clubs. I still enjoy the closeness of the nightclub venue. However, after a certain ..." — Sonny Rollins

What I am more concerned about is whether our whole civilization will be around in the next 25 years.

I have always been a person who is concerned with the dignity of jazz music and the way jazz musicians have been treated and are treated, and the fact that the music has not been given the kind of due that it deserves.

I think what we need is a more welcoming mode from the people who put on a hundred million country-western shows on television. How about a monthly jazz show?

I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration for somebody to try to create jazz.