Here are some excerpts from my 2010 profile of Frank Kimbrough, the fabulous jazz pianist who has just passed away. First a quote from Frank: "Music to me is like bread -- made fresh daily. There's no other way to do it."

Frank, on the impact of the Miles Davis album Four and More: "Hearing that record was like being struck by lightning. From that point there was no question in my mind, and no turning back. I had to play this music."

Frank, on being mentored by Shirley Horn: "With Shirley, it was all about observing how she worked -- she almost never rehearsed, and she lived the music. Her playing was spare, and she played the most beautiful harmonies ... She taught me how to allow the music to breathe."

More Frank on Shirley: "And she could out-hang anybody! I used to go to her house, hang out, and listen to music -- she really took me under her wing. She loved to cook, and it was probably through her that I realized that jazz is such a very social music."

Frank, on meeting Paul Bley: "The first time we met, he invited me to his studio, and we sat talking and listening to music for eight hours. There was a piano in the room, but neither of us touched it the whole time."

Frank, on Paul: "He doesn't believe in practising or rehearsing -- he goes to the gig to 'get lost' and find what's there -- to play something different each night."

Frank, on learning a new tune every night for a steady solo piano gig during his formative years: "I was living in a tiny place in the East Village with no piano, so I would sit on the couch and transcribe tunes, then memorize them on long walks, and play them at the gig."