Snooky Young on his longevity

Now, A Jazz Moment?

MUSIC: "Catch a Star," CD: Snooky & Marshal?s Album Concord Jazz CCD-4055 (cut 7)

Snooky Young: I know I can?t play like I did when I was 55 or 25, 35. Who can, you know what I?m saying. And that goes for anything. But I?m still in there. I still play.

NEA Jazz Master Snooky Young played with many of the greatest big bands of his day ? Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Thad Jones & Mel Lewis? but it didn?t come easy. His advice to aspiring players?

Snooky Young: Practice. And practice a lot. And listen to people you like, imitate em for a while, but after you get to be a man of a certain age you move on, on your own.

MUISIC: up and fades

This Jazz Moment with trumpeter Snooky Young was created by the National Endowment for the Arts.