Jazz Quotes

1344 Jazz quotes by 630 unique authors

Jazz isn't like pop, where you sell millions of records with a hit. Your spirit and soul aren't important in pop music. But jazz is… — Freddie Hubbard
Music needs the juxtaposition of opposites to achieve its drama, so harshness and dissonance are simply part of the material a musician can use to… — Chuck Israels
Everything-everything-was communicated through the sound of the music. There were no other signals of any kind ever-no count-offs, head nods, spoken instructions...nothing. — Chuck Israels
The people in Japan love jazz music, man, and also in Europe, far more than they ever did here. And that always puzzled me until… — Milt Jackson
I would like to be a scholar in whatever I do, a scholar is never finished, he is always seeking and I am always seeking. — Ahmad Jamal
Many fail to realize this great recording industry was built by so-called jazz artists. And at the other end of the spectrum, a base in… — Ahmad Jamal
I can see forms and shapes in my mind when I solo, just as a painter can see forms and shapes when he starts painting.… — Elvin Jones
What about a blues in W, in the key of W. — Rahsaan Roland Kirk
What I love about Sonny's playing is that he is so inventive within the mainstream Jazz vernacular. Because he knows so many ways to deal… — Pete La Roca
I was deeply impressed and moved by his masterful playing. He was highly polished, profound, subtle, and intense. He was extremely fluent in a great… — Pete La Roca
Free music is in a constant state of surprise and, consequently, presents no surprise at all. So, I'm not really a fan of Free music.… — Pete La Roca
Fusion has been my nemesis. — Pete La Roca
Ornette Coleman is doing the only really new thing in jazz since the innovations in the mid-forties of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and those of… — John Lewis
I think that's what really a substantial work is, it's forever. It's the truth now and it was the truth then, and it will be… — Abbey Lincoln
I was in New York, miserable because I was working supper clubs but I wasn't expressing myself. I was really unhappy with my life. I… — Abbey Lincoln
Make no mistake, this music is for everyone. Jazz is not an exclusive, elite club. Go ahead, listen to your Snoop Doggy Dog, Pearl Jam,… — Christian McBride
I tell my students, 'It's an important tradition and you have to go back and hear this music and learn its language all the way… — Jackie McLean
I never really sounded like Bird, but that was my mission. I didn't care if people said that I copied him; I loved Bird's playing… — Jackie McLean
People with talent are not interested in showing off behind another person. They're more interested in the music. [Charlie Parker] was playing with me. That's… — Helen Merrill
I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it. Max… — Helen Merrill
[Miles Davis] learned from everyone. He was incredible. He took the best from everyone and threw away the rest. He was brilliant. One of the… — Helen Merrill
If someone has been escaping reality, I don't expect him to dig my music. — Charles Mingus
I, myself, came to enjoy the players who didn't only just swing but who invented new rhythmic patterns, along with new melodic concepts. And those… — Charles Mingus
I like to hear melodies that go from one extreme to the next- saxophone to a bell to a whistle, for instance. — Roscoe Mitchell
If you listen to nature, all the sounds are done in a confident way. I'm trying to do that. — Roscoe Mitchell

Who Wrote These Jazz Quotes

630 authors contributed a total of 1,344 Jazz Quotes, led by these top contributors: