--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been saying for almost 20 years that…" description: "\"I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a jazz project and it ought to be either big band or I should do some jazz songs with a trio or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg" --- # I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a… ![“I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a jazz project and it ought to be either big band or I should do some jazz songs with a trio or quartet.” quote by Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg) > “I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a jazz project and it ought to be either big band or I should do some jazz songs with a trio or quartet.” [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A long‑standing desire to explore jazz through various ensemble sizes, seeking artistic growth. **In simple terms:** Want to create jazz music. Key Takeaway Pursue the jazz project you envision. Themes creativity musical ambition collaboration Mood determined reflective Type musical career When to use this quote - recording a jazz album - forming a trio - planning a big band Key Concepts jazz composition ensemble dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Which ensemble best fits your vision? - How will you secure resources? A Different Perspective Funding and logistics can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Band Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-jazz-2024585/) [Big band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-band/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-project-4380878/) [Jazz Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-songs-3345976/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Need Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-jazz-4380879/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Quartets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quartets/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Trios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trios/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [As an improviser I'm now pretty comfortable with trios, so I'm thinking of working up to quartets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-frith/as-an-improviser-i-m-now-pretty-comfortable-with-trios-so-i-m/) [Fred Frith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-frith/) > [When I was seven years old, I was leading a quartet and trio, and that really laid the groundwork for me as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-akiko-meyers/when-i-was-seven-years-old-i-was-leading-a-quartet-and-trio-and-that/) [Anne Akiko Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-akiko-meyers/) > [I am touring in Europe. I am putting together a trio and a quartet. I am playing solo concerts with my symphonic sounds. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-vitous/i-am-touring-in-europe-i-am-putting-together-a-trio-and-a-quartet-i/) [Miroslav Vitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-vitous/) > [Jazz songs have always been quite literal because many of them are taken from musical theater and you only have a couple of moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/jazz-songs-have-always-been-quite-literal-because-many-of-them-are/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [I do all the classics, like Dylan, Kristofferson, Jimmy Reed, Mexican mariachi songs, some jazz songs from the '30s. Cole Porter's 'Begin the Beguine,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-do-all-the-classics-like-dylan-kristofferson-jimmy-reed-mexican/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [Player for player, there’s no better working band in jazz than The Cookers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/player-for-player-there-s-no-better-working-band-in-jazz-than-the/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [My band, Miles Long, is a jazz-funk spoken word band. There's jazz sensibilities, but I'm a bass player, so I'm very much into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/my-band-miles-long-is-a-jazz-funk-spoken-word-band-there-s-jazz/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Now, the instrumentation in the jazz band and the jazz dance band has gone through many evolutions. For instance, in the 'twenties the tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/now-the-instrumentation-in-the-jazz-band-and-the-jazz-dance-band-has/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [One interesting thing about jazz, or art in general, but jazz especially is such an individual art form in the sense that improvisation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/one-interesting-thing-about-jazz-or-art-in-general-but-jazz/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [I played Big Band jazz music. I wasn't into rock and roll. I was just there because it was a living. I surprised everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-vinton/i-played-big-band-jazz-music-i-wasn-t-into-rock-and-roll-i-was-just/) [Bobby Vinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-vinton/) > [My dad graduated seminary there, and so did (sounds like) Mark Kimball's grandfather. They sang in a quartet together, my dad and Mark Kimball's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/my-dad-graduated-seminary-there-and-so-did-sounds-like-mark-kimball-s/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Kingsley Amis was one of a trio of brilliant comic novelists who made English literature sparkle in the twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/kingsley-amis-was-one-of-a-trio-of-brilliant-comic-novelists-who-made/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [When I was about 13 or 14. I was in a Kingston Trio type group. We evolved into the New Breed. Our first song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/when-i-was-about-13-or-14-i-was-in-a-kingston-trio-type-group-we/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [We recorded that trio and it's out on the Knitting Factory label. I've got another record in the can with that group and Marc,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/we-recorded-that-trio-and-it-s-out-on-the-knitting-factory-label-i-ve/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) ## More by Al Jarreau > [I want to give the audience the whole package, and for me, the whole package is to give them something fresh as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-want-to-give-the-audience-the-whole-package-and-for-me-the-whole/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm a Buckeye at heart. I spend more time giving concerts in Ohio than I do in any other state - perhaps more time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-a-buckeye-at-heart-i-spend-more-time-giving-concerts-in-ohio-than/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Let that get you up in the morning and put the light in your eyes. I'm telling you, it makes you a better husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/let-that-get-you-up-in-the-morning-and-put-the-light-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm an R&B and pop singer as well as a jazzer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-an-r-b-and-pop-singer-as-well-as-a-jazzer/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I really do see it as the start of the second half of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-really-do-see-it-as-the-start-of-the-second-half-of-my-career/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Every day is Thanksgiving.On this stage you're going to hear God and none of them other words, and I ain't going to touch my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/every-day-is-thanksgiving-on-this-stage-you-re-going-to-hear-god-and/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I came along with that crowd of singer-songwriters who were able to make their own statements in such a personal way that it changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-came-along-with-that-crowd-of-singer-songwriters-who-were-able-to/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I think being a little older and a little more determined and being a little more evolved in my case and maturity in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-think-being-a-little-older-and-a-little-more-determined-and-being-a/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [When you do a lyric for 'April in Paris,' those who have heard it before can hear it in a different way now. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/when-you-do-a-lyric-for-april-in-paris-those-who-have-heard-it-before/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I was age six or seven, and singing, "Jesus wants me for her son, beep, to shine for him," and people smiled and pinched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-was-age-six-or-seven-and-singing-jesus-wants-me-for-her-son-beep-to/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I have this image in my head of me in the house I grew up in, and hearing this incredible music on the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-have-this-image-in-my-head-of-me-in-the-house-i-grew-up-in-and/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I sat on the piano bench next to my mother in church. Something happened before I set foot on this planet. I was crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-sat-on-the-piano-bench-next-to-my-mother-in-church-something/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I'm a little bit nervous for us with all of this electronically generated new hyper-space that we've moved into, where not only people but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-a-little-bit-nervous-for-us-with-all-of-this-electronically/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [The Metropole Orchestra is like Count Basie or Duke Ellington with strings... it's strings that swing. Strings that swing like Dizzy Gillespie... keep swinging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/the-metropole-orchestra-is-like-count-basie-or-duke-ellington-with/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I came here with something in me that I inherited from my folks. So I'm going to do something called life and times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-came-here-with-something-in-me-that-i-inherited-from-my-folks-so-i/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) [Explore all 90 Al Jarreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) [Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a jazz project and it ought to be either big band or I should do some jazz songs with a trio or quartet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Jarreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-that-i-need-to-do-a-jazz-project/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Band" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-that-i-need-to-do-a-jazz-project/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/388/al-jarreau-7533_band_i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-tha_2940318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been saying for almost 20 years that I need to do a jazz project and it ought to be either big band or…” — Al Jarreau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Jarreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been saying for almost 20...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-that-i-need-to-do-a-jazz-project/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-ve-been-saying-for-almost-20-years-that-i-need-to-do-a-jazz-project/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```