Carla Bley

Listening is more important than anything because that’s what music is. Somebody is playing something and you’re receiving it.

I like chords that are very lush with all the lush parts taken out.

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

My neighbors always listen to very hip Jazz… whether they like it or not.

The way I think about the practicing, it is my undercover work.

I learn something new every day.

Many people forget that Jazz, no matter what form it takes, must come from the heart as well as the mind.

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

Miles Davis and John Coltrane were so cool, if alive today global warming wouldn’t be an issue.

The way I look at it, they’re all part of my musical diary, and I can listen to any one of them and it will bring up memories of what was going on at that time.

It’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play.

When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it’s composition.

I guess you can look at me, and tell I’m the old man. My name is BB King.

The blues comes right back to a person’s feelings, to his daily activities in life. But rich people don’t know nothing about the blues, please believe me.

Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.

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

I always wanted to be a spontaneous composer.