Duke Ellington

I’m sure critics have their purpose, and they’re supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what he did.

My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.

A goal is a dream with a finish line.

There is no art without intention.

It’s all music.

If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!

If a jazz player is really playing, the classical player will have to respect him.

Look at the tune and not make the same statement that has been made a million times.

For me, the main thing is spontaneity and taking chances.

Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.

I still do what I love, and I don’t really think about it. I try to make a beautiful show, so people go home happy. That’s my biggest aspiration: to make people happy.

Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness – I wouldn’t know. But I am sure it is the antithesis of self- consciousness.

Bass players are always the intellectual kind, but nobody knows it.

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.

I sought some kind of freedom in music, in the promise of transcendence and the idea that the purity and the innocence of a mythical god could somehow deliver me from darkness.

I love it. When they stop imitating me then I’ll start wondering where I’m going wrong. Every day when I sit down to play, I learn something new.

I’m glad I don’t have perfect pitch because it can drive you crazy.

Pop doesn’t really look back. It can’t. What makes pop work is simplicity.

Jazz is not gonna be a dinosaur and stay around in one form.

My audience was my life. What I did and how I did it was all for my audience.

Jazz is letting everybody do his or her thing with the music.