Alanis Morissette

The more vulnerable and the more confused the song is, the equal and opposite effect is how I feel after having written it.

I was born in ’74, so I missed out on all the great early ’60s and early ’70s.

At one point, I was just perceived as only being angry, but now I’m being perceived as angry, peaceful, and spiritual.

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

I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.

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

Jazz music is haunted by its own hungry ghosts.

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

There is no doubt that the first requirement for a composer is to be dead

Musicianship is using your two ears.

It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.

In Kansas City joints ran 9pm-5am. Pay was a $1.25 a night but somebody special like Count Basie could command $1.50.

If a literary man puts together two words about music, one of them will be wrong.

I, myself, came to enjoy the players who didn’t only just swing but who invented new rhythmic patterns, along with new melodic concepts. And those people are: Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Parker, who is the greatest genius of all to me because he changed the whole era around.

You never get it figured out. You just keep playing.

It doesn’t have to be happy music to be inspiring.

It’s just exciting to be part of something that is brand-new.

Always keep reaching.

Most jazz players work out their solos, at least to the extent that they have a very specific vocabulary.

You know why I quit playing ballads? Cause I love playing ballads.

Every day when I sit down to play, I learn something new.