---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certain jazz musicians just copy what was…"
description: "\"Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.\" — Trombone Shorty"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg"
---

#  Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years…

![“Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.” quote by Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg)

> “Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.”

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reliance on past styles stifles innovation; risk‑taking is essential for artistic growth.

**In simple terms:** Copying old jazz blocks progress.

Key Takeaway

Embrace risk to evolve music.

Themes

creativity risk tradition

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- musicians planningcomposers
- record labels
- festival programming

Key Concepts

innovation cultural evolution

Questions to Reflect On

- How can artists balance homage with novelty?
- What risks are worth taking in your field?

A Different Perspective

Risk can alienate existing audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Certain Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-jazz-5213792/) [Copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-musician/) [Jazz musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-musicians/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) [Musicians Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians-just-939847/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/)

## Related quotes

> [Why can't jazz musicians just leave a melody alone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/why-can-t-jazz-musicians-just-leave-a-melody-alone/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [Jazz musicians have always taken the standards of their time and performed them with a jazz sensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-reeves/jazz-musicians-have-always-taken-the-standards-of-their-time-and/)

[Dianne Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-reeves/)

> [Jazz musicians, in a way, are nerds. We are so in our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vogler/jazz-musicians-in-a-way-are-nerds-we-are-so-in-our-world/)

[Jan Vogler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vogler/)

> [I'd been studying philosophy at the University of Chicago. I hadn't been doing well, because I was sitting in with jazz musicians at night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-d-been-studying-philosophy-at-the-university-of-chicago-i-hadn-t/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [Coltrane would do what you'd get a Roland Pro Tools module to do but with a group of jazz musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/coltrane-would-do-what-you-d-get-a-roland-pro-tools-module-to-do-but/)

[Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/)

> [Mum left school at 15, and after a few years of modelling and dating jazz musicians, was married by 21 to my father, Mike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/mum-left-school-at-15-and-after-a-few-years-of-modelling-and-dating/)

[Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/)

> [Jazz musicians have always tended to have cult followings, which is pretty wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-reeves/jazz-musicians-have-always-tended-to-have-cult-followings-which-is/)

[Dianne Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-reeves/)

> [A lot of times, jazz musicians try to educate people. What other genre does that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/a-lot-of-times-jazz-musicians-try-to-educate-people-what-other-genre/)

[Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/)

> [Jazz music and, more specifically, jazz musicians, are my artistic heroes. I want to be the Thelonious Monk of acting. He had no concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-st-john/jazz-music-and-more-specifically-jazz-musicians-are-my-artistic/)

[Trevor St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-st-john/)

> [I loved Art Tatum! And, through him, and other different jazz musicians, I actually found my technique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/i-loved-art-tatum-and-through-him-and-other-different-jazz-musicians/)

[Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/)

> [The Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame will provide a center where the lives and the artistry of the greatest jazz musicians will be celebrated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/the-ertegun-jazz-hall-of-fame-will-provide-a-center-where-the-lives/)

[Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/)

> [I have a large collection of biographies about jazz musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-have-a-large-collection-of-biographies-about-jazz-musicians/)

[Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/)

> [Iceland is so small; classical musicians play on pop projects and pop musicians play with jazz musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/iceland-is-so-small-classical-musicians-play-on-pop-projects-and-pop/)

[Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/)

> [There are a lot better musicians than me out there that just haven't had the luck to fall into everything like I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-tipton/there-are-a-lot-better-musicians-than-me-out-there-that-just-haven-t/)

[Glenn Tipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-tipton/)

> [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

## More by Trombone Shorty

> [Sometimes on my show, I just play something out of the blue, and the band picks up on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/sometimes-on-my-show-i-just-play-something-out-of-the-blue-and-the/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I wanted to become a better entertainer, and I learned from my brother James Andrews. And I've been studying some tape of James Brown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-wanted-to-become-a-better-entertainer-and-i-learned-from-my-brother/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [That's the way New Orleans is. It's driven by the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/that-s-the-way-new-orleans-is-it-s-driven-by-the-music/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I got a chance to work with Mystikal and Mannie Fresh and Juvenile and all these people as I was growing up, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-got-a-chance-to-work-with-mystikal-and-mannie-fresh-and-juvenile/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [People get caught up in recreating something, and that actually hurts the genre of music because there's nothing new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/people-get-caught-up-in-recreating-something-and-that-actually-hurts/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [Life would be pretty boring if I didn't explore. It's about letting my ears take me on an adventure to soak in everything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/life-would-be-pretty-boring-if-i-didn-t-explore-it-s-about-letting-my/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [Music in New Orleans has always been the heartbeat that drives the city. It was that even before Katrina, and that's what we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/music-in-new-orleans-has-always-been-the-heartbeat-that-drives-the/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I've lost a bunch of friends - some of them in jail, some of them made bad choices, some of them aren't where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-lost-a-bunch-of-friends-some-of-them-in-jail-some-of-them-made/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I always dreamed of playing a show with Bono and Edge and the guys in Green Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-always-dreamed-of-playing-a-show-with-bono-and-edge-and-the-guys-in/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I never really listened to any particular trombone players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-never-really-listened-to-any-particular-trombone-players/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I've dreamed a lot of things and a lot of them have come true. The Grammy nomination was the last thing on my list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-dreamed-a-lot-of-things-and-a-lot-of-them-have-come-true-the/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [New Orleans made me who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/new-orleans-made-me-who-i-am/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I've had a strong will power to become one of the best. And I'm not gonna let nothing stop me from going to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-had-a-strong-will-power-to-become-one-of-the-best-and-i-m-not/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I've been playing music since I was four, so it's part of my life. It's all I know. It's just a part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/i-ve-been-playing-music-since-i-was-four-so-it-s-part-of-my-life-it-s/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [It's like drinking water. You have to have water every day, and music is like water for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/it-s-like-drinking-water-you-have-to-have-water-every-day-and-music/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

[Explore all 107 Trombone Shorty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

## More Copy quotes

> [Would ya like a copy of my butt? -Butt-Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beavis-and-butthead/would-ya-like-a-copy-of-my-butt-butt-head/)

[Beavis And Butthead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beavis-and-butthead/)

> [“All religions worthy of the name are now making great efforts to purify their doctrines and return to their original standpoint, — all except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/all-religions-worthy-of-the-name-are-now-making-great-efforts-to/)

[Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/)

> [I've reread 'The Secret Garden' every year as an adult. I have a battered copy on my bookshelf - it's really quite a mess!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-ve-reread-the-secret-garden-every-year-as-an-adult-i-have-a/)

[Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/)

> [We call ourselves creators and we just copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/we-call-ourselves-creators-and-we-just-copy/)

[Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/)

> [“Everytime you make a copy of the copy, you lose clarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-e-nelson/everytime-you-make-a-copy-of-the-copy-you-lose-clarity/)

[Alan E. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-e-nelson/)

> [William Regal is an obvious influence, as is Fit Finlay - you can see that in my style of wrestling - but I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dunne/william-regal-is-an-obvious-influence-as-is-fit-finlay-you-can-see/)

[Pete Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dunne/)

> [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/)

[Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/)

> [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/)

[Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/)

> [Why would anybody hire a someone who is copying someone else when he can get the original one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/why-would-anybody-hire-a-someone-who-is-copying-someone-else-when-he/)

[KK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kk/)

> [I used to copy looks from fashion ads in my mother's 'Cosmopolitan' magazines and steal her eye shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/i-used-to-copy-looks-from-fashion-ads-in-my-mother-s-cosmopolitan/)

[Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/)

> [I like to read non-fiction on my e-reader, but as for fiction, I usually like to have a copy to keep at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-like-to-read-non-fiction-on-my-e-reader-but-as-for-fiction-i/)

[Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/)

> [I've always avoided publicity. I've never been good copy at any stage of my life. I don't strive for it, because I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-ve-always-avoided-publicity-i-ve-never-been-good-copy-at-any-stage/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [Long time ago, people would make the Bible, right? The guy said it, somebody wrote it down. And then if you wanted another copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/long-time-ago-people-would-make-the-bible-right-the-guy-said-it/)

[Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/)

[Browse all 594 Copy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Trombone Shorty"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-was-done-100-years-ago-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Copy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-was-done-100-years-ago-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/trombone-shorty-4668_copy_certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-wa_652310.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.” — Trombone Shorty",
                "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": "Trombone Shorty",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Certain jazz musicians just copy what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-was-done-100-years-ago-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/certain-jazz-musicians-just-copy-what-was-done-100-years-ago-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
