Dexter Gordon

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

What I’m doing, I prefer to call that jazz, because it is a beautiful word – I love it.

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

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.

The music scene is more competitive in the States.

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

Look for the one who’s not smiling and play to that person. Once you’ve got that person, you’ve got the whole club.

You have to understand the styles and it’s good to study those that came before us.

I don’t compose. I assemble materials.

Don’t worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one.

If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together.

Music doesn’t have to hop to be hip, as long as it swings it sings.

Apparently Jazz is now considered high art and the average person has trouble understanding it.

People involve themselves with the superficiality of Jazz without digging for its soul.

Anyone who understands Jazz knows that you can’t understand it. It’s too complicated. That’s what’s so simple about it.

For years the Trio did nothing but play for musicians and other hip people. We practically starved to death.

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

Jazz music grabs you to the point where it never lets you go until the very last breath.

Jazz singing is like pornography. You can’t say what it is, but you know it when you see it.

Jazz has always been a man telling the truth about himself.

Don’t settle for style. Succeed in substance.