Alanis Morissette

Well, as a kid I did not get Shakespeare. I just never understood it.

I remember thinking during those times that I wanted to write in a way where there are no rules.

As long as I can say what it is that I need to say, then I’ll fit whatever I’m trying to say around a melody.

When I start writing songs and it turns into an overly belabored intellectual process, I just throw it out.

Down the road, I’ll probably have a kid or two or three. And there will probably be political events or spiritual things to comment on, and humor.

In my opinion, I think sarcasm and humor in a song, without turning it into a novelty song, is really charming.

If the bass plays the root, a pianist superimposes a Maj7 built on the 5th and the sax plays the 13th, will hot women notice?

Of the whole bunch of guys who play hollow body guitar, I think Herb Ellis has the most drive.

A drummer has to be kind-hearted.

Spontaneously composed music is a counterpoint that has its own rules based on a natural order and intuitive logic.

One can be very happy without demanding that others agree with them.

I’m not claiming divinity. I’ve never claimed purity of soul. I’ve never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can… But I still believe in peace, love and understanding.

Whenever I’m in Kansas City, I think back to all the jazz-blues greats who played the blues here – like Count Basie, Charlie Parker and Jay McShann. I watched those guys jam in different places and heard a lot of things – but I couldn’t do what they did. They were too good.

You just sort of have to play the way you are.

Jazzmen are our surrogates for the unpredictable, our paladins of constant change.

Jazz is all about improvisation and it’s about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you’ll never do it this way twice. I’ve studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan.

I’m always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I’ve been.

Today Jazz music is performed and listened to by people of all ethnicity, backgrounds, ages and creeds.

Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness – I wouldn’t know. But I am sure it is the antithesis of self- consciousness.

I always wanted to be a spontaneous composer.

The reward for playing Jazz is playing Jazz.