Certain music, jazz in particular, has the ability to make you a better citizen of the world. It helps you expand your… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I always like to play very contemporary concepts of swing right next to New Orleans music because it highlights continuum. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
The Duke and Swing represent affirmation in the face of adversity. — 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
Some stances are just conducive to swinging. If I stand up straight for too long it's harder to swing. Plus my feet… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
Through improvisation, jazz teaches you about yourself. And through swing, it teaches you that other people are individuals too. It teaches you… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
Swing is extreme coordination. It's a maintaining balance, equilibrium. It's about executing very difficult rhythms with a panache and a feeling in… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
Everything about the swing is about some guideline and some grid and the elegant way that you negotiate your way through that… — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
I worry more about the marketing that's taken hold since the 70s. The Jazz era, the Swing era, those were huge. Entire… — 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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing. — Wynton Marsalis Copy Share Image
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 Image
