Jay McShann

My family was a Christian family. But I had to get to Kansas to play the blues.

— Jay McShann

We didn't let a night go by that we didn't play.

— Jay McShann

As long as Pete and Joe are there, it's gonna be jumping.

— Jay McShann

We had an old Victrola with the old bulldog they used to have there. The horn would come out.

— Jay McShann

I had listened to Joe Turner. When they'd book Joe there, I'd play the blues behind him.

— Jay McShann

It was my first time in Kansas City. In about two or three days I had a gig at a place called…

— Jay McShann

They had the music being piped right out on the street. I'd be three or four blocks from there and I couldn't…

— Jay McShann

They said Bird played bebop, but Bird could still swing. I've heard a lot of guys play bebop, but they wasn't swinging.

— Jay McShann

We used to play the Savoy Ballroom, and we always had a boogie tune in the set. Bands like Tommy Dorsey used…

— Jay McShann

I was listening to all those lyrics and trying to take in everything that was happening. I was completely excited. It was…

— Jay McShann