Bing Crosby

I don’t really get nervous, I prepare. When the music messed up in the beginning, it tapped into my nerves and when you’re nervous and vulnerable, something special and something different can happen.

Jazz is a complete lifestyle, something that you feel, something that you live.

By its very nature, no one person can ever be the center of Jazz.

Why Jazz? This is just the way I see music.

The weird thing about bass is the simplest stuff to do is the hardest.

I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to.

Play the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you play.

Jazz is the sound of surprise.

You can have the greatest player in terms of mastering an instrument and be yawning your head off.

Sometimes it’s to your advantage for people to think you’re crazy.

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

When you begin to teach Jazz, the most dangerous thing is to teach style.

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

I find my inspiration in myself.

I play whatever the hell comes out… that’s it.