Keith Jarrett

I don’t like recording studios – except my own, which is just a little room above the garage.

The way I think about the practicing, it is my undercover work.

One thing you learn: if you want to reveal yourself, you also have to know where to stop.

Jazz is one of the least learnable art forms.

I cannot say what I think is right about Music. I only know the rightness of it.

Once we’re inside a tune, we can do anything with it.

I’m now a legend, whether I want to be or not.

Music should strike fire from the heart of man and bring tears to the eyes of woman.

The sound of the orchestra is one of the most magnificent musical sounds that has ever existed.

Your own music comes out of your head and emotions, but it’s not etched in your system.

Musicians need to continue higher learning try to expand the pallet.

A Jazz man should be saying what he feels: humor, sadness, joy… all the things that humans have.

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

When I write songs that touch on social relevance, all you have to do is pick up a newspaper.

It’s part of what the blues does, to write about these things. JB Lenoir was the main one in this regard – he wrote about Korea, too, in fact. Songs that reflect these current situations – in his case, racial issues for the most part: in my case, what has happened to me, and I was in Korea.

Jazz is not a what, it is a how.

Back in college, when I got kicked out of school, I was still in school, I’d just written the song that got me my record deal. If I hadn’t gotten kicked out of school I wouldn’t be where I am now. Three months after that, I got my record deal and the rest is history.

‘Swing’ is an adjective or a verb, not a noun. All jazz musicians should swing. There is no such thing as a ‘swing band’ in music.

The reason I write music is that I feel it’s a vehicle or channel which leads to your true self, your essence.

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

Music can’t save the world, but can make one a little calmer.