Brian McKnight

I am a writer – that is what I am before being a performer or musician. I love waking up in the morning and then going to sleep that night with something that did not exist.

I’m creating music – it doesn’t matter if anyone else likes it.

I write about moments, and I don’t make blanket statements about anything because no one has all the answers; nobody’s come up with a foolproof way to do anything when it comes to emotions.

I tend to lean on the side of pessimism and I wish I could be more optimistic. I wish I could be better at taking things for what they are – not analyzing them – but just going about my life.

I think social media has given everyone a voice. Social media makes everyone a celebrity on some level. I think that diminishes the power of an artist who bases their trade on their talent, that’s one of the downfalls. But the good thing is that you can connect with your fans all the time.

I don’t really look at my career in terms of highlights and low lights. I think I’m at this place right now and to be at this place right now I’ve had to go through many obstacles and lots of highs and lows and for me it’s about the entire journey.

The thing I always default to is that I’ll always be here to write songs.

A musician’s responsibility is to get as much of his art across to the public as possible.

In this trumpet I hear our icons and the sound of the future.

I like people who have worked long and hard, developing through introspection and dedication.

I always try to teach by example and not force my ideas on a young musician. One of the reasons we’re here is to be a part of this process of exchange.

How do I know why Miles walks off the stage? Why don’t you ask him? And besides, maybe we’d all like to be like Miles, and just haven’t got the guts.

I am not interested in compromising my music to make it palatable to an assumed sub-standard mass.

It’s like a whole orchestra, the piano for me.

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

A Jazz musician is supposed to find his voice, find his niche and do his thing.

Composing is a mindset, a part of who I am.

Music is what I hear and something that I live by.

10% of musicians make 90% of the money, while the remaining 90% of musicians make the 10% that’s left.

You know at an early age if you have a talent for music.

Jazz attracted me because in it I found a formal perfection and instrumental precision that I admire in classical music, but which popular music doesn’t have.