Bill Evans

Especially, I want my work-and the trios if possible-to sing.

Jazz is a mental attitude rather than a style. It uses a certain process of the mind expressed spontaneously through some musical instrument. I’m concerned with retaining that process.

Jazz is not a what, it is a how.

Perhaps it is a peculiarity of mine that despite the fact that I am a professional performer, it is true that I have always preferred playing without an audience.

I went through a lot of mental pains and anguish about choosing between jazz and classical. I realized that where I functioned was where I should be, and where I functioned was in jazz, so that was it.

To the person who uses music as a medium for the expression of ideas, feelings, images, or what have you; anything which facilitates this expression is properly his instrument.

Jazz standards are our contribution to music history.

Jazz affirms the noblest aspirations of character, individual discipline, perseverance and innovation.

Every symphony, for example, is a sonata for orchestra; every string quartet is a sonata for four strings; every concerto a sonata for a solo instrument and orchestra.

You want the audience to feel what you’re doing.

I learned my songs from the birds of the Brazilian forest.

Working with Benny was important for me and for black musicians in general.

Change is always happening. That’s one of the wonderful things about Jazz music.

The extreme dynamic and percussive possibilities of an acoustic guitar amplified through a bridge pickup have, over many years of performing, informed not only the way I play, but the way I write and sing too. My guitar taught me to sing in textures, from the roundest lingering harmonic to the sharpest snap of a pulled string. Being a percussion instrument as well as a melodic instrument, my guitar also teaches me about the relationship between rhythm and melody. Portable. Did I mention it also taught me about being portable?

I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea.

Well if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn’t play like Wynton.

The people who know nothing about music are the ones always talking about it.

You never master the instrument. You always just strive to get better.

The true beauty of music is that it connects people.

People who are meant to be drawn to your music will find you.

Jazz is music made by and for people who have chosen to feel good in spite of conditions.