Erroll Garner

I always play what I feel. I always feel like me, but I’m a different me every day. I get ideas from everything. A big color, the sound of water and wind, or a flash of something cool. Playing is like life. Either you feel it or you don’t.

Every day when I sit down to play, I learn something new.

I am attracted to Jazz music for the idea of being in the moment and communicating to people spontaneously.

I gave it my absolute everything I had in that howl at the start of the song. And then B. B. King opened up his mouth and I felt like a girl. We had learned and absorbed, but the more we tried to be like B.B., the less convincing we were.

All a musician can do is to get closer to the source.

Jazz music has always made powerful statements about freedom, creativity and personal identity.

If a Jazz musician plays someone else’s song, he has a responsibility to make a distinct and original statement.

The arranger doesn’t get any royalties, but I had so much fun doing it.

I started as a writer and when I sent my demos out everyone wanted to know who was singing and if that person wanted a record deal.

Jazz is the big brother of Revolution. Revolution follows it around.

Jazz improvisation is an elusive genius.

I say, ‘Play your own way. Don’t play what the public wants. You play what you want and let the public pick up on what you’re doing – even if it does take them fifteen, twenty years’.

I was never interested in singing in the church or school. I was more interested in becoming a musician.

You usually can’t tell what’s inspiring until you look back on it.

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, ‘Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.

Music is a gift and a burden I’ve had since I can remember who I was.

I developed in my head that I’m never any better than my last concert or the last time I played, so it’s like an audition each time. You get nervous just before going onstage. I still have that, but I think it’s more like concern. You’re concerned about the people – like meeting your in-laws for the first time.