--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jazz groups have to make a living any way." description: "\"Jazz groups have to make a living any way.\" — Lester Bowie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png" --- # Jazz groups have to make a living any way. ![“Jazz groups have to make a living any way.” quote by Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png) > “Jazz groups have to make a living any way.” [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz artists must find any means to sustain themselves financially. **In simple terms:** Musicians need to earn a living by any method. Key Takeaway Explore diverse income streams. Themes art survival creativity economics Mood pragmatic reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - concerts - teaching - recording - side jobs Key Concepts gig economy resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance art and income? - What non‑musical jobs support musicians? A Different Perspective Financial pressure may compromise artistic integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Groups Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups-make-868171/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-groups-3691029/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Make Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-living/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of groups go out, and they make big bucks in a couple of years and they're gone. I would like a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-meisner/a-lot-of-groups-go-out-and-they-make-big-bucks-in-a-couple-of-years/) [Randy Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-meisner/) > [There are very few groups that really stay together. The leaders of groups make enough money to be able to afford to work a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/there-are-very-few-groups-that-really-stay-together-the-leaders-of/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [When men organize themselves into groups, and they make rules based on common or self-interest, it's always tangled and political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/when-men-organize-themselves-into-groups-and-they-make-rules-based-on/) [Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/) > [People can be divided into three groups: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/people-can-be-divided-into-three-groups-those-who-make-things-happen/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [The Meters are, I think, the most influential group in our time to come out of New Orleans, to have changed and introduced us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scofield/the-meters-are-i-think-the-most-influential-group-in-our-time-to-come/) [John Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scofield/) > [If you are in an improv jazz ensemble or a small chamber group, you learn to think fast on your feet and how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-hackman/if-you-are-in-an-improv-jazz-ensemble-or-a-small-chamber-group-you/) [J. Richard Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-hackman/) > [ I'd much prefer to hear somebody like Ed Thigpen \[drummer with New York session group Stuff, and featured on innumerable hits\] take a solo.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-d-much-prefer-to-hear-somebody-like-ed-thigpen-drummer-with-new/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [My brother had a big band in high school; after that we continued to play together, eventually forming a group called the Jazz Brothers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-mangione/my-brother-had-a-big-band-in-high-school-after-that-we-continued-to/) [Chuck Mangione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-mangione/) > [My goal has always been to make a living and to have the respect of my peers. It's never been about stardom. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-weston/my-goal-has-always-been-to-make-a-living-and-to-have-the-respect-of/) [Celia Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-weston/) > [Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My plan was to be able to make a living as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-plan-was-to-be-able-to-make-a-living-as-an-actor/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I don't want to make a living. I want to make a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/i-don-t-want-to-make-a-living-i-want-to-make-a-life/) [Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/) > [I work hard, I make my own living and I love it. I like having financial independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-work-hard-i-make-my-own-living-and-i-love-it-i-like-having/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [“Compared with working just to make a living, it’s much easier to do what you love and get paid for it. You just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/compared-with-working-just-to-make-a-living-it-s-much-easier-to-do/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [“If I never got to make a living doing what I loved, I'd still do it--for fun and for free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-e-isaacs/if-i-never-got-to-make-a-living-doing-what-i-loved-i-d-still-do-it/) [Susan E. Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-e-isaacs/) ## More by Lester Bowie > [They always say that jazz doesn't sell, but it's a lie, because it does sell, and it sells consistently year in and year out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/they-always-say-that-jazz-doesn-t-sell-but-it-s-a-lie-because-it-does/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [A chord is just the name of a sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/a-chord-is-just-the-name-of-a-sound/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [I always tell my students when you're going to be a jazz musician the first thing you've got to do is be a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/i-always-tell-my-students-when-you-re-going-to-be-a-jazz-musician-the/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [You know when I was younger I used to look at Downbeat Magazine and I figured anybody in Downbeat must be making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/you-know-when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-look-at-downbeat-magazine-and-i/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [What I've been trying to do for years is to get the music played on a station other than jazz stations, you know, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/what-i-ve-been-trying-to-do-for-years-is-to-get-the-music-played-on-a/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [We just can't go and try to turn the clock back, that's not happening anymore. You've got to figure something else out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/we-just-can-t-go-and-try-to-turn-the-clock-back-that-s-not-happening/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [They're not just interested in one sort of music any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/they-re-not-just-interested-in-one-sort-of-music-any-more/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [Jazz is neither specific repertoire, nor academic exercise... but a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-is-neither-specific-repertoire-nor-academic-exercise-but-a-way/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [Music is very important. It's important as a tool for learning, it can be a tool for healing, it can be no telling what,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/music-is-very-important-it-s-important-as-a-tool-for-learning-it-can/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [Because I believe that the future of the music lies in the Internet. It can be sold on the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/because-i-believe-that-the-future-of-the-music-lies-in-the-internet/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [Play as well as you can all the time, and if you're truthful to your thing, you'll succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/play-as-well-as-you-can-all-the-time-and-if-you-re-truthful-to-your/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [The trumpet is forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/the-trumpet-is-forceful/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [We have the freedom to either play a tempo or not to play a tempo; to play a note or not to play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/we-have-the-freedom-to-either-play-a-tempo-or-not-to-play-a-tempo-to/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [These people are interested in a wide variety of music, and that's what we're into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/these-people-are-interested-in-a-wide-variety-of-music-and-that-s/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [Jazz is so difficult. A lot of people think once they've learned these licks they can get up and play them for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-is-so-difficult-a-lot-of-people-think-once-they-ve-learned-these/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) [Explore all 31 Lester Bowie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) ## More Groups quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I have a really grounded group of friends, and they like me no matter what. I think it's really important to know who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-guthy/i-have-a-really-grounded-group-of-friends-and-they-like-me-no-matter/) [Jackson Guthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-guthy/) > [You can't have a movie with a group of people that are significant players in the story, that push forward the plot, without introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/you-can-t-have-a-movie-with-a-group-of-people-that-are-significant/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-were-siding-with-the/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) [Sam Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hinton/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) [Browse all 5,557 Groups quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jazz groups have to make a living any way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lester Bowie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-way/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Groups" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-way/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/lester-bowie-20177_groups_jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-wa_2835866.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Jazz groups have to make a living any way.” — Lester Bowie", "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": "Lester Bowie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Jazz groups have to make a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-way/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/jazz-groups-have-to-make-a-living-any-way/#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 } } ] } ```