Kurt Elling

Jazz singing is like pornography. You can’t say what it is, but you know it when you see it.

To play piano is a significant part of my life, my existence. It fulfills a very physical and spiritual need for me.

To play without passion is inexcusable.

Improvising musicians are musical travelers, voyagers. There is a freedom to wander the musical landscape.

Master your instrument, master the music and then forget all that and just play.

Music isn’t just learning notes and playing them. You learn notes to play the music of your soul.

Don’t worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one.

Music is the tool to express life – and all that makes a difference.

That’s the thing about jazz: it’s free flowing, it comes from your soul.

I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is ’cause I’m changing all the time.

Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.

Stop before you’re done.

It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.

I am famous because I am an African American jazz artist.

At times in my life the only place I have been happy is when I am on stage.

A musician’s responsibility is to get as much of his art across to the public as possible.