Lionel Hampton

I think I love it more as I get older because I keep getting better on drums, vibes and piano.

The secret is keeping busy, and loving what you do.

Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God.

Man, as long as people want to hear Jazz, I’ll give it to them.

It’s always Jazz. You can put a new dress on her, a new hat, but no matter what kind of clothes she’s the same old broad.

Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.

I’ve always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music.

What we hear is the quality of our listening.

When I began listening to saxophones, I was first attracted to Coleman Hawkins.

I think the most important thing about playing is to walk out with confidence, look the people right in the eye and say ‘Here I am,’ and go and do your thing. As soon as they know you’re confident, they’re confident. As long as you adjust to them you’re not in trouble. You should eyeball them, find out what they want, and give it to them. They didn’t pay to come out and look at the tapestries.

I am the sum total of everything that I have experienced musically.

You have to practice improvisation, let no one kid you about it!

I thank you in advance for the great round of applause I’m about to get.

I never stop being amazed by all the different ways of playing the guitar and making it deliver a message.

I’ll keep evolving and put that into my songs.

People couldn’t give an F about how many cars you got any more. It’s about the way the music sounds, where you’re going, the experience you’re going to hanging out with your friends, the type clothes that you’re wearing – all of that’s art.

The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way.

You can’t go to the store and buy a good ear and rhythm.

If you’re going to make a mistake, make it loud so everybody else sounds wrong.

Jazz is like wine. When it is new it’s only for the experts, but when it gets older everybody wants it.

It’s important to find your own voice and do something of your own.