Dexter Gordon

Jazz is a living music; since its beginning has expressed the feelings, dreams and hopes of the people.

If you can’t play the Blues you might as well hang it up.

I hope we left you with something to put under your pillow.

Music is a reservoir… of sounds.

When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it’s composition. If you don’t understand what it’s about, you’re depriving yourself of being really able to communicate this poem.

Jazz is a beautiful word. I love it.

If you’re making money people don’t think you’re playing Jazz. When you’re not making money they think you’re a great Jazz musician.

An orchestra can become as familiar and reliable an instrument as a well-known, well-worn piano.

We didn’t have any segregation at the Cotton Club. No. The Cotton Club was wide open, it was free

I feel I have only scratched the surface of what I know I am capable of doing.

I think that those elements – light and sound – are beyond democratic. They’re into the creative part of life.

I cringed when I heard myself described as a Jazz singer. I’ve always thought of myself as a Jazz vocalist.

You’ve got to be willing to put stuff on the line, otherwise it doesn’t have much meaning.

I first fell in love with the piano, I knew it was me. I was dying to play.

It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.

People will hire you and then tell you not to do what you were doing when they heard you.

Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That’s why I wanted the clarinet.

I remember Glenn Miller coming to me once, before he had his own band, saying, How do you do it? How do you get started? It’s so difficult. I told him, I don’t know but whatever you do don’t stop. Just keep on going.

Musicians have to suffer to a certain degree in order to obtain their outlet.

In this era it’s harder for musicians to get together, … Back in the ’80s, we were all at the clubs, you ran into people all the time. Now, everybody’s kind of in their own room with their computers. I use making an album as an opportunity to connect with musicians.

Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.