--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always difficult to define what jazz…" description: "\"It's always difficult to define what jazz is or what jazz isn't. To me, the only definition that I can think of is it's music where a lot of different ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/david-sanborn-13730_always_it-s-always-difficult-to-define-what-jaz_2344694.jpg" --- # It's always difficult to define what jazz is or what jazz… ![“It's always difficult to define what jazz is or what jazz isn't. To me, the only definition that I can think of is it's music where a lot of different elements are played at the same time. The harmonic, the melodic... You're pushing the boundaries on every level. That could be true of rhythm and…” quote by David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/david-sanborn-13730_always_it-s-always-difficult-to-define-what-jaz_2344694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/david-sanborn-13730_always_it-s-always-difficult-to-define-what-jaz_2344694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/david-sanborn-13730_always_it-s-always-difficult-to-define-what-jaz_2344694.jpg) > “It's always difficult to define what jazz is or what jazz isn't. To me, the only definition that I can think of is it's music where a lot of different elements are played at the same time. The harmonic, the melodic... You're pushing the boundaries on every level. That could be true of rhythm and blues as well. I'm a musician.” [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz resists strict definition; it blends diverse harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic elements, constantly pushing musical boundaries, similar to other genres. **In simple terms:** Jazz is a mix of many musical parts played together, always evolving. Key Takeaway Embrace genre fluidity and experimentation. Themes music creativity genre improvisation Mood analytical inspired educational Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - composition - performance - education - collaboration - listening Key Concepts fusion complexity innovation cultural expression Questions to Reflect On - How does genre blending affect listeners? - Can boundaries be both inclusive and exclusive? A Different Perspective Complexity can alienate newcomers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Harmonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonic/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Rhythm and blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-and-blues/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody has ever been able to define Jazz satisfactorily. 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Avant-garde artists didn't know about rock or pop or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/in-the-60s-people-were-still-very-protective-of-each-field-that-they/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I really love jazz, but I will never be a jazz musician as much as I dream. But, I think that the jazz music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-really-love-jazz-but-i-will-never-be-a-jazz-musician-as-much-as-i/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/to-jazz-or-not-to-jazz-there-is-no-question/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I didn't choose jazz; jazz chose me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-didn-t-choose-jazz-jazz-chose-me/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I've been around jazz and jazz musicians most of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/i-ve-been-around-jazz-and-jazz-musicians-most-of-my-life/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) > [ We're \[with Robbie Robertson \] jazz musicians. The context may be rock 'n' roll but it's still jazz. It's jazz and that means improvization...you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/we-re-with-robbie-robertson-jazz-musicians-the-context-may-be-rock-n/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Rock music was the death of jazz in a way. I know there's a bunch of people who say jazz isn't dead, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hince/rock-music-was-the-death-of-jazz-in-a-way-i-know-there-s-a-bunch-of/) [Jamie Hince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hince/) > [Jazz isn't as profitable for labels like Hip hop or Rap. Jazz needs subsidies to continue, just like European classical works of Bach and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-heath/jazz-isn-t-as-profitable-for-labels-like-hip-hop-or-rap-jazz-needs/) [Jimmy Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-heath/) > [Jazz is smooth and cool. Jazz is rage. Jazz flows like water. Jazz never seems to begin or end. Jazz isn't methodical, but jazz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/jazz-is-smooth-and-cool-jazz-is-rage-jazz-flows-like-water-jazz-never/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [Jazz needs the help. It's the more sophisticated music. All the other music is on the TV, but jazz isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-higgins/jazz-needs-the-help-it-s-the-more-sophisticated-music-all-the-other/) [Billy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-higgins/) > [Jazz, isn't that just a series of mistakes diguised as musical composition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mckean/jazz-isn-t-that-just-a-series-of-mistakes-diguised-as-musical/) [Michael McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mckean/) > [Jazz isn't what you do; it's how you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-waller/jazz-isn-t-what-you-do-it-s-how-you-do-it/) [Fats Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-waller/) ## More by David Sanborn > [Jazz music should be inclusive. Smooth jazz to me rules out a certain kind of drama and a certain tension that I think all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/jazz-music-should-be-inclusive-smooth-jazz-to-me-rules-out-a-certain/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [In regard to music, I just think that it's always best to have an attitude of being a perpetual student and always look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/in-regard-to-music-i-just-think-that-it-s-always-best-to-have-an/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [Its all about finding the right note at the right place and knowing when to leave well enough alone. And that's a lifelong quest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/its-all-about-finding-the-right-note-at-the-right-place-and-knowing/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [While St. Louis is technically regarded as part of the Mid-West, it's actually - geographically and emotionally - more part of the South. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/while-st-louis-is-technically-regarded-as-part-of-the-mid-west-it-s/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I have a certain temperament, a disposition that I think lends itself to not playing outside the lines that much. But I do test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-have-a-certain-temperament-a-disposition-that-i-think-lends-itself/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I don't think I'm modest so much as I'm realistic. I know what I can do and what I can't do. I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-don-t-think-i-m-modest-so-much-as-i-m-realistic-i-know-what-i-can/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I always wanna be in the process of evolving and growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-always-wanna-be-in-the-process-of-evolving-and-growing/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I'm moved by a lot of different kinds of music, whether it's pop music or R&B or straight-ahead jazz or free or opera or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-m-moved-by-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-music-whether-it-s-pop-music/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I think a valid approach to being a musician is to take all of the experience of your life and filter it through your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-think-a-valid-approach-to-being-a-musician-is-to-take-all-of-the/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [All the music that I've made in the past I've believed in. I think some of it has been more commercially successful than others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/all-the-music-that-i-ve-made-in-the-past-i-ve-believed-in-i-think/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [Well, I guess my unease with that is... I'm always a little uneasy with that phrase - smooth jazz, as opposed to what?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/well-i-guess-my-unease-with-that-is-i-m-always-a-little-uneasy-with/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [Music is like an open sky. You know it's out there... and there you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/music-is-like-an-open-sky-you-know-it-s-out-there-and-there-you-are/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I think that that's the way the music grows and changes and becomes new and creative and vital. It's by synthesizing elements from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-think-that-that-s-the-way-the-music-grows-and-changes-and-becomes/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I try to do things that keep me interested. And play music that moves me. I like to move around and play in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-try-to-do-things-that-keep-me-interested-and-play-music-that-moves/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I think that, given a real choice, people would like to hear something interesting, not something bland and right down the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/i-think-that-given-a-real-choice-people-would-like-to-hear-something/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) [Explore all 49 David Sanborn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always difficult to define what jazz is or what jazz isn't. 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