Jazz Quotes

1344 Jazz quotes by 630 unique authors

Jazz is not just music, it's a way of life, it's a way of being, a way of thinking. . . . the new inventive… — Nina Simone
I don't like drug addicts and she sounds like a cat. — Nina Simone
I was always a politician from the day the civil rights people chose me as their protest singer. — Nina Simone
Talent is a burden not a joy. I am not of this planet. I do not come from you. I am not like you. — Nina Simone
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," a song that was written for Simone, she confronted the band's lead singer, Eric Burdon. "So you're the honky," she… — Nina Simone
My mom would have liked it that I patterned myself more after Jimmy Reed. — Zoot Sims
Ninety-five percent of my audience was white. — Zoot Sims
A prophet is not without honor except in his own country among his own people. — Sun Ra
What I'm dealing with is so vast and great that it can't be called the truth. It's above the truth. — Sun Ra
I am a musician, but I'm another type of musician. — Sun Ra
People behind the Iron curtain have such an incredible image of America and jazz. I expected to find a Gerry Mulligan or Miles Davis on… — Gabor Szabo
When I was studying at Berklee, I got the feeling I couldn't play the [guitar] at all, because I could not use my own things… — Gabor Szabo
Many jazz musicians affect a misunderstood-genius air when they play, which alienates the audience and breaks down the communications of the music. A musician's responsibility… — Gabor Szabo
I believe that regardless of how many people you've listened to or emulated over the years, your sound is you and what you really feel… — Clark Terry
My dream is to do whatever I want without any interference from the record company. — Sarah Vaughan
Judy Garland was the singer I most wanted to sound like then, not to copy, but to get some of her soul and purity. A… — Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan was the Charlie Parker of the vocalists during the 1950s. — Roy Haynes
This is so nice, it must be illegal. — Fats Waller
At first I didn't understand what [Thelonious Monk] was doing, but I went back again, and what I can say about Monk is that I… — Randy Weston
There's no appreciation for the giants [of jazz]; there's never been a major film on Duke Ellington , never a major film on Louis Armstrong.… — Randy Weston
I am an improviser, ... I improvise music. Whatever you want to call it all, it is all improvised music. I may capture it and… — Joe Zawinul
Trumpets! Can you bring your... uh... extracurricular tubing necessities next rehearsal? — Jaco Pastorius
Tastes are created by the business interests. How else can you explain the popularity of Al Hirt? — Charles Mingus
Most customers, by the time the musicians reach the second set, are to some extent inebriated. They don't care what you play anyway. — Charles Mingus
Well, I'm too old to pimp, and too young to die, so I'm just gonna keep playin' — Clark Terry

Who Wrote These Jazz Quotes

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