The Quintet - Jazz At Massey Hall (milestone 1953 recording, featuring a uniquely titanic line-up of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach)
That was the first jazz record that I heard – it really blew me away. Just an amazing experience, listening to it. All the lights went on. I thought "yeah, this is where music is at". Did I buy it at the time? Shortly, afterwards – I didn't have a record player. I heard it at a record shop. I was part of a gang, living down in New Eltham, south London. We used to steal records. But that was certainly the record that first really, really impressed me. Max Roach, who plays on that, is astonishing. Later on, we became good friends. But I wouldn't say he influenced my playing. No one ever influenced my playing – I played my way.