Count Basie

The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.

I’ll always remember when I first heard Lester [Young]. I’d never heard anyone like him before. He was a stylist with a different sound. A sound I’d never heard before or since. To be honest with you, I didn’t much like it at first.

I just think swing is a matter of some good things put together that you can really pat your foot by. I can’t define it beyond that.

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, ‘Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.

Count don’t do nothin’. But it sure sounds good.

Keep on listening and tapping your feet.

Once in a while, the thumb that fits over the neck of the guitar kinda bothers me a little bit, but not that much yet. I figure in time I won’t do much because of my age.

I work very hard at being the best musician I can be because I love it.

To compose music, all you need to do is remember a tune that no one else has thought of.

I wanted to connect my guitar to human emotions.

A musician starting out today should get a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument.

I thought I had swell ideas and wonderful musicians but no one else did.

Music is a reservoir… of sounds.

No one is original. Everyone is derivative.

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music.

I think I love it more as I get older because I keep getting better on drums, vibes and piano.

The hidden things, the subconscious that lies in the body and lets you know: You feel this, you play this.

Is there a meaning to music? Yes. Can you state in so many words what the meaning is? No.

I stole everything I ever heard, but mostly I stole from the horns.

I don’t have a definition of Jazz. You’re just supposed to know it when you hear it.

Monk encouraged me to emancipate the drums from their subservient role as timekeepers.