Billie Holiday

A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.

You can’t copy anybody and end up with anything. If you copy, you’re working without any real feeling.

I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was 6 years old.

You’ve got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body’s sermon on how to behave.

Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Let’s just go walking in the rain.

I don’t think I ever sing the same way twice. The blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it. Anything I do sing is part of my life.

It’s like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something.

To play without passion is inexcusable.

Jazz is one of the few things you can do in society to express yourself freely and creatively.

It’s about getting the sound to flow from your body and allowing that sound to get to the piano.

Listening is the key to everything good in music.

Jazz music grabs you to the point where it never lets you go until the very last breath.

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

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

Look for the one who’s not smiling and play to that person. Once you’ve got that person, you’ve got the whole club.

Jazz demands that you bring to it things that are valuable to you, that are personal to you.

One very important thing I learned from Monk was his complete dedication to music.

My role as a drummer is as a team player to enhance what is going on around me.

When you are studying Jazz best thing to do is listen to records and live music as much you can and absorb everything.

If you’ve only got one horn playing, I still want the sense of ensemble.

Your accompanist has a lot to do with how you sing, so experiment and choose your partner wisely.