Aretha Franklin

I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is.

I’ve never recorded anything I didn’t like.

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

Let’s start with the church. As you know, it’s my background, it’s a natural setting for me and it’s definitely my roots.

I’m the lady next door when I’m not on stage.

Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away!

I’ve had those people very interested in my writing. Since I think of myself as a composer, I feel really good. I’ve had lots of guys call me up. I’ve gotten two or three commissions to write things. I’ve written lots of movie scores.

Never play anything the same way twice.

It’s not jazz as we know jazz here in America.

New artists can own their content and completely build their base and their following without having to sell or be owned by anybody and it creates such a diversity.

It doesn’t matter all that much. It’s just that when you’re playing, Stephane, you’ve got both Chaput and me backing you, but when I’m soloing I’ve only got one guitar behind me!

I always make it a point to pick songs on which players really shine.

Forget about upholding the tradition and just play who you really are.

Jazz improvisation is the art of drawing without an eraser.

While many attempts have been made to define Jazz, what’s the point really. Jazz is to be experienced – period.

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.

There is nothing more stuntastic than rapping in front of an orchestra.

Regardless of what you play, the biggest thing is keeping the feel going.

Jazz musicians are the only workers who will put in a full shift for pay and then go somewhere else and continue to work for free.

I’d like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I’ve heard.

Anytime you strike the drums, you have to be aware that you’re creating a musical event.