Jim Croce

[on Prince] I learned about music that didn’t have any barriers or any kind of, like, containment. I learned about wild, crazy topics and ways to express yourself that had never been written in quite that way before. I learned that a human being could be able to defy all stereotypes, and be the epitome of badassness.

The expression of freedom that is Jazz improvisation mirrors the ethos of the best parts of society.

Let your life be your music and let your music be your life.

I got out of the car and there was a knife in my neck. The guy says, “Don’t move.” And the drummer got out of the car, and he got a gun in his head. This was my entrance to the South Side of Chicago. But it was necessary, because I wanted to play jazz.

In music the passions enjoy themselves.

Sometimes you need to stand with your nose to the window and have a good look at Jazz.

We open our minds, stretch forth, take chances and venture out musically to arrive at something new and different.

There are four qualities essential to a great Jazzman: taste, courage, individuality and irreverence. These are the qualities I want to retain in my music.

The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique.

If a guy is gonna to play good bop, he has to have a sort of a bop soul.

Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.

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.

After you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have a good time.

The fabulous places I’ve been, wonderful things that’ve happened, great people I’ve met ought to make a story.

I think that what is important is that the music be honest and direct and that it is relevant to today.