True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time.
All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work.
True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.
My people are Americans. My time is today.
Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and feeling of the American people more than any other style of folk music.