D C DowDell

One shouldn’t be in the habit of quoting oneself.

If the bass plays the root, a pianist superimposes a Maj7 built on the 5th and the sax plays the 13th, will hot women notice?

Jazz – it takes passion to make it happen!

The jazziest American contribution to the vocabulary of English is Jazz itself.

While many forms of music may use the dynamic of improvisation, Jazz exemplifies the unique characteristic of collective improvisation.

While many attempts have been made to define Jazz, what’s the point really. Jazz is to be experienced – period.

I heard someone say ‘What’s that kid doing here? Call your piano player and let’s get started.’

We may not be changing the world dramatically, but we’re improving it one note at a time.

I try stuff. I synthesize what’s of value with some of the other things I have at my disposal.

The radio makes hideous sounds.

The music field was the first to break down racial barriers, because in order to play together, you have to love the people you are playing with, and if you have any racial inhibitions, you wouldn’t be able to do that.

After two takes you’re imitating yourself.

When I got my first guitar my fingers wouldn’t go to the sixth string so I took off the big E and played with just five strings. I was only 6 or 7.

The boppers flat their fifths. We consume ours.

The Blues is never old.

Stevie didn’t use the technology to drive the song. He used it to enhance. I use the tools to further my work, I don’t use my work to further the tools.

An entertainer pleases others while an artist only has to please himself.

I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is ’cause I’m changing all the time.

He knows I rip him off every day. He’s the godfather for me. Nobody can say they aren’t influenced by what Stevie Wonder has done.

The true musician is to bring light into people’s hearts.

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