I'm not messing around with nobody's woman. If I want a woman I go get her - you know what I mean? — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I've always told the musicians in my band to play what they know and then play above that. Because then anything can… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
It's like swimmin' without warmin' up, yuo know what I mean? So [cackles] we use the drum machine, and we take it… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I can tell. I'm gifted with that, you know. When I hear that the tempo is slightly off, it's hard for me. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
In other words, an instrument should be an extension of you; it's supposed to sound like you - the way you walk,… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Sometimes [playing free] doesn't happen, because maybe a guy's wife'll come in, you know, and his ego will catch him. If everybody's… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
If you had to call it "unison", it ain't unison. It ain't the same as somebody else. If you can hear that… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I mean, it makes me sick when I see a white man sitting there smiling at me being entertaining, man. When I… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Somebody, my daughter or my wife, gave me a music box for Christmas. It plays "My Funny Valentine" on celeste, you know?… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I would never try and play like Harry James, because I don't like his tone - for me. It's just white. You… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
The melody is French. But that's the end of the record. I named it "Jean Pierre Then There Were None," you know,… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I don't hold it against Dizzy [Gillespie], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
If you make a suggestion and [musicians] don't know what you mean, you have to be able to do it yourself. I… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Audiences - they like colour, you know. I can go out there wearing a red suit, man, and they'll say I'm out… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Like Ron Lorman's always sayin', "Na-na-na-na-na," you know what I mean? I don't need that in the studio. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
You ever hear Buddy Miles play the drums? You know, he doesn't vary the tempo at all. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
White folks always think that you have to have a label on everything - you know what I mean? — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Dave [Holland] plays the way he wants to play. And it's usually what's needed. You know, Dave is such a deep thinker.… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I don't like to hear someone put down dixieland. Those people who say there's no music but bop are just stupid; it… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Tom Jones is funny to me, man. I mean, he really tries to ape Ray Charles and Sammy Davis, you know. He's… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
Some musicians play with their heart, you know what I mean? I don't know what to tell a person that can't -… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
You want to know how I started playing trumpet? My father bought me one, and I studied the trumpet. And everybody I… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
See, if you put a musician in a place where he has to do something different from what he does all the… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing. — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where… — Miles Davis Copy Share Image
![“It's like swimmin' without warmin' up, yuo know what I mean? So [cackles] we use the drum machine, and we take it out.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d10/miles-davis-1842_computers_it-s-like-swimmin-without-warmin-up-yuo_1038336.jpg)
![“Sometimes [playing free] doesn't happen, because maybe a guy's wife'll come in, you know, and his ego will catch him. If everybody's completely just straight-without any old ladies over here, a fourth of whisky over there; if it's balanced right, it'll come off. It has to be. But when you get egos…” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/91f/miles-davis-1842_balanced_sometimes-playing-free-doesn-t-happen-be_657307.jpg)
![“Somebody, my daughter or my wife, gave me a music box for Christmas. It plays "My Funny Valentine" on celeste, you know? So I had Bobby [Irving] just play "Jean Pierre" with the changes on celeste.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/575/miles-davis-1842_boxes_somebody-my-daughter-or-my-wife-gave-me_863480.jpg)
![“I don't hold it against Dizzy [Gillespie], you know, but if a guy wants to play a certain way, you work towards that. If he stops - he's full of crap, you know. I mean, I wouldn't do it, for no money, or for no place in the white man's world. Not just to make money, because then you don't have…” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aed/miles-davis-1842_apes_i-don-t-hold-it-against-dizzy-gillespie_1460081.jpg)
![“If you make a suggestion and [musicians] don't know what you mean, you have to be able to do it yourself. I often sit down on drums and show 'em just exactly what I want. And I do it and then say, "How do you do that?" It's because I know how it looks, I know what I want to hear, and I don't drop…” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/637/miles-davis-1842_able_if-you-make-a-suggestion-and-musicians-d_502009.jpg)
![“[Jazz musicians] feel comfortable with their clichés, you know.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31f/miles-davis-1842_comfortable_jazz-musicians-feel-comfortable-with-the_2502913.jpg)
![“Dave [Holland] plays the way he wants to play. And it's usually what's needed. You know, Dave is such a deep thinker. You can't tell him too much, else it might spoil his spirit, you know.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a48/miles-davis-1842_dave_dave-holland-plays-the-way-he-wants-to-p_3007407.jpg)
![“[Prince] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0fa/miles-davis-1842_dukes_prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellin_142140.jpg)