---
title: "1 Played Chicago Quotes By Kurt Elling"
description: "1 Played Chicago quotes by Kurt Elling. Plus more from Kurt Elling and more Played Chicago sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/kurt-elling-6944_encouragement_i-couldn-t-do-what-i-do-without-the-enco_575074.jpg"
---

> [I couldn't do what I do without the encouragement and influence of the musicians I played with in Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-couldn-t-do-what-i-do-without-the-encouragement-and-influence-of/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/kurt-elling-6944_encouragement_i-couldn-t-do-what-i-do-without-the-enco_575074.jpg)

## More by Kurt Elling

> [Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/man-i-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-a-jazz-musician-at-all-i-have-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a jazz moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-can-start-from-any-source-material-and-you-can-approach-it-with-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-don-t-really-have-a-more-intellectualized-approach-after-the-fact-i/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-think-my-intention-was-there-and-my-love-for-the-music-was-apparent/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-ve-worked-with-a-number-of-big-bands-but-there-s-nothing-in-life/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-the-commercial-world-wants-to-bank-in-on-the-cachet-that/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/the-great-jazz-and-jazz-influenced-singers-carry-themselves-with-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-work-very-hard-on-the-lyrics-getting-them-to-fit-the-contours-of/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [There's a wide spectrum of possibilities in how to deliver a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/there-s-a-wide-spectrum-of-possibilities-in-how-to-deliver-a-song/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-people-are-put-off-by-the-idea-of-scat-singing-either-that/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-want-to-be-doing-your-best-work-whatever-field-of-the-arts-you-re/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [Why limit yourself to one discipline or field of study?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/why-limit-yourself-to-one-discipline-or-field-of-study/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/sometimes-with-vocalese-i-m-dealing-with-something-a-great-solo-from/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I'm a guy who has more slapstick than Joe Cool moments in his day, so I'm not taking myself so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-m-a-guy-who-has-more-slapstick-than-joe-cool-moments-in-his-day-so/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

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