You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
If you're going to be transparent, you're going to have to let the music come that wants to come. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
I'm a jazz musician, and I really wanted to not miss an opportunity to have the full connection to jazz. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
While I revel in the memories of my own Grammy moment, I also know how it feels to walk away empty-handed. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
You don't want to make records so you can win a Grammy. You make records because you want to be a musician. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
People want to have access to jazz because it has a vibe that's very strong. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
The great jazz and jazz-influenced singers carry themselves with a certain panache and a certain elegance and, for lack of a better… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
Karl Johnson, my first piano player at Milt Trenier's, he just swung really hard and gave me a sense of really belonging… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
I'm one of the culprits who keeps turning stuff around, shaking up original tunes and trying to stand the canon on its… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
I think of jazz as being homage through innovation. Don't quote that as a definition, but it comes pretty close. — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
It must be a hellish thing to know what's possible in music, to be hearing things all the time and not have… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
Music is a physical expression that has a physical impact upon the listener. Sound travels in waves through the air. This is… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
There is an actor's responsibility in presenting the emotional content of the lyrics to an audience. But whether you do that in… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
I can't say New York's home, but I've made a lot of friends, and I'm developing a map of what cats are… — Kurt Elling Copy Share Image
Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.… — Kurt Elling Copy Share
You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a jazz moment. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make… — Kurt Elling Copy Share
I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and… — Kurt Elling Copy Share
I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
The great jazz and jazz-influenced singers carry themselves with a certain panache and a certain elegance and, for lack of a better word, self-confidence. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
You want to be doing your best work whatever field of the arts you're in because your life's going to be over all too… — Kurt Elling Copy Share
Sometimes, with vocalese, I'm dealing with something, a great solo from the past, which is so iconic I can't presume to change it or… — Kurt Elling Copy Share
I'm a guy who has more slapstick than Joe Cool moments in his day, so I'm not taking myself so seriously. — Kurt Elling Copy Share
