Stan Getz

We made records to document ourselves, not to sell a lot of records. I still feel that way. I put out a record because I think it’s beautiful, not necessarily commercial.

Other than conversation, no other art form can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction like Jazz.

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 saxophone is actually a translation of the human voice, in my conception. All you can do is play melody. No matter how complicated it gets, it’s still a melody.

Life is too full of distractions nowadays. When I was a kid we had a little Emerson radio and that was it. We were more dedicated. We didn’t have a choice.

As far as playing jazz, no other art form, other than conversation, can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction.

Music does not come to you. You have to come to it and you’ll walk away with something you didn’t have before.

Music is a reservoir… of sounds.

The problem is that a lot of the blues stations are late on Saturday night, and like a lot of people, I ain’t no vampire!

Jazz without the Blues is like BBQ without the sauce.

I have always seen Jazz as innovative.

When Hank Jones had his night off, I would get somebody to take my place as intermission pianist and I’d play the show with Ella, so I would get a chance to play with Ray Brown and Charlie Smith as well.

I didn’t need to worry about keys, chords, melody if I had that emotion that brought tears and laughter to people’s hearts.

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.

I thought Eric Clapton was good. He still is. Not only is he good – he’s rock’s #1 guitarist, and he plays blues better than most of us.

No one is original. Everyone is derivative.

Those who wish to sing, always find a song.

Sounds of daily life are musical. I try to absorb the intricacies of sounds as if I were listening to music.

All I play is truth and emotion.

We quest for the perfect performance and every note has to be right. Man, every note is not right in life.

Don’t give up trying to do what you really want. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.