I try to put a lot of our music in my music - by that I mean of American music. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I think that virtuosity is the first sign of morality in a musician. It means you're serious enough to practice. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
Ethics are more important than laws. Which means that the exact note is less important than the feeling of the note. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
To say that the Afro American created jazz doesn't mean anything bad about Anglo Americans, and I always teach my younger jazz… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I try to find the core values that are so fundamental that they transcend ethnic identity. That doesn't mean I run from… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
The main three components are the blues, improvisation - which is some kind of element that people are trying to make it… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
How great musicians demonstrate a mutual respect and trust on the bandstand can alter your outlook on the world and enrich every… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
When I say "our," I definitely mean all of America. It's not less pertinent for you because it comes from a Black… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I love Gustavo Dudamel and I love what he does for classical music, and I love what he comes out of, El… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
What takes its place is very dry education. And the tools that actually can teach you - singing and playing, learning how… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I feel that for years of teaching in the country and reading criticism in books, I feel like the things most needed… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
As long as there is democracy, there will be people wanting to play jazz because nothing else will ever so perfectly capture… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
I always read all these books about the slaves. My mother is very educated. My father would talk to us like we were grown… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
“The best musicians know this music isn't about "schools" at all. Like my father says, "There's only one school, the school of 'Can you… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
And that's the soulful thing about playing: you offer something to somebody. You don't know if they'll like it, but you offer it. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
“I noticed that religion gave some people a way to escape dealing with the world: “Things will be better when you die,” the people… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share
