Billy Crystal

It’s money. I remember it from when I was single!

I felt a responsibility to present a viable alternative to the popular electric sound.

All musicians stimulate each other. The vibrations get scattered around.

I want to keep redefining my work and trying new things. I want my music to be able to fit into any category. I want it to float wherever my heart goes. My music is heart music; giving it any other description is dangerous.

In Europe they look upon jazz as art. In America it’s a diversion. Somebody opens a restaurant and installs another band off to the side. People don’t listen.

On my album Here, that’s the first time that I’ve really understood how I could put all the things that were happening in the world and in my life and in our lives as just human beings into one body that was just so powerful and really had a perspective. That was an opening for me and I think that naturally, there is just so much to talk about. I don’t see me getting quiet anytime soon.

Jazz fans love Miles and I love him for a myriad of reasons, but the overviews are always too simplistic.

I could see the blues was about survival.

If a jazz player is really playing, the classical player will have to respect him.

I say this because it’s a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don’t have that ability. I didn’t. I had to know what I was doing. And ultimately it turned out that these people weren’t able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians.I believe in things that are developed through hard work.

I don’t do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn’t care less. If it sells one, it sells one.

I asked my mother could I have an instrument. She said, ‘Well if you go out and save your money.’ So I went and got – I made me a shine box. I went out and started shining shoes, and I’d bring whatever I made.

A melody is not merely something you can hum.

Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and charm and gaiety to life.

A guitar is something you can hold and love and it’s never going to bug you. But here’s the secret about the guitar – it’s defiant. It will never let you conquer it. The more you get involved with it, the more you realize how little you know.

Musicianship is using your two ears.