DESMOND: Uh-huh. Another thing that’s a major factor in your playing, is this fantastic technique, that nobody’s quite equalled. I’ve always wondered about that, too — whether there was, whether that came behind practicing or whether that was just from playing, whether that evolved gradually.
PARKER: Well, you make it so hard for me to answer you, you know, because I can’t see where there’s anything fantastic about it all. I put quite a bit of study into the horn, that’s true. In fact, the neighbours threatened to ask my mother to move once. We were living out West. She said I was driving them crazy with the horn. I used to put in at least 11 to 15 hours a day.
DESMOND: Yes, that’s what I wondered.
PARKER: That’s true, yes. I did that for over a period of 3 or 4 years.
DESMOND: I guess that’s the answer.
PARKER: That’s the facts, anyway.