Chick Corea

I’ve noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.

The fact that an artist is experiencing the joy of creation makes me feel like we’re in it together.

Every time I see a musician – it doesn’t matter what age – that inspires me, there’s always a secret little wish that maybe we’ll play together, because that’s how I learn and grow and so forth, you know. But hopefully there’s a lot more.

I call myself a teacher because they want me to call myself a teacher, but actually, what I’m doing is I’m studying.

The sound of the orchestra is one of the most magnificent musical sounds that has ever existed.

Without a doubt, my richest relationships are my long-term friendships with musical partners, because we make music together. That’s what we love to do with our lives.

Jazz is a beautiful woman whose older brother is a policeman.

I’m more careful about my hands than about what I eat and most anything else, because my hands have been my living. My hands have been able to help me learn. My hands have taken me around the world. So I’m very proud of my hands.

I never heard of a Jazz musician who retired. You love what you do, so what are you going to do… play for the walls?

Jazz music will continue to thrive, possibly in unexpected ways.

Not too slow, not too fast. Kind of half-fast.

A good quartet is like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other’s ideas.

Everybody ought to have a lower East Side in their life.

You could still improvise but do it with lyrics.

You don’t have to be Picasso or Rembrandt to create something. The fun of it, the joy of creating, is way high above anything else to do with the art form.

Darlin… be-bop is the music of the future.

I don’t intend to be a performing flea anymore. I was the dreamweaver, but although I’ll be around I don’t intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don’t want to die at 40.

If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.

What I came back to is that jazz is a music to be played and not to be intellectualized on.

Surrender your whole being to a note and gravity disappears.

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