If you come on a band tense, you're going to play tense. If you come a little bit foolish, act just a little bit foolish, and let yourself go, better ideas will come. — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar. When I get too much to drink, I can't even finger well, let alone play decent ideas.… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
When I first heard music, I thought it should be very clean, very precise. Something that people could understand, something that was beautiful. — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Every time I hear a recording I've made, I hear all kinds of things I could improve or things I should have done. There's… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play. — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Some guys said 'Here's bop!' Wham! They said, 'Here's something we can make money on!' Wham! 'Here's a comedian!' Wham! Here's a guy who… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Definitely, study is absolutely necessary in all forms - it's just like any talent that's born within somebody. It's just like a good pair… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes. The beat in a bop band is with the music,… — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
It's just music. It's playing clean and looking for the pretty notes. — Charlie Parker Copy Share Image
