Duke Ellington

I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.

There is no art without intention.

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Critics get a little carried away with what someone should have done, rather than what he did.

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.

Roaming through the jungle of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’, searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats.

I’ll play it first and tell you what it is later.

When you sing, always tell the truth.

I’ve said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.

Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.

Live music is best! Make plans to get out and support your local Jazz scene.

Jazz goes into my coffee in the morning, in my wine at night.

[Stratocaster vs Les Paul] It’s a totally different animal. One is for very subtle and, I would say, more musical things that you can distract and abuse. You can’t do that with a Les Paul. It’s too delicate. It’s got a very delicate tone; most people don’t ever realize that because they are plugged into monstrous amplifiers which completely, instantaneously covers up the unique sound quality it has. All those years of development go straight out the window when you overload the amp.

If the audience doesn’t hear what is going on, is it going on?

Miles told me not to use vibrato because when you get old, you’re going to shake anyway.

Good music is good music and everything else can go to hell.

I’m trying to get people to see that we are our brother’s keeper. Red, white, black, brown or yellow, rich or poor, we all have the blues.

I think that it is important to try to sound like someone, especially early in your development.

Music is an addiction.

Musicians need to continue higher learning try to expand the pallet.

Last time I saw Count Basie, he was in a wheelchair. They wheeled him up onto the stage, he sits down at the piano, and he gives the downbeat, and that band played like they were in heaven. And right in the middle, the band cuts. He had to take one hand and put the other on it, and he comes down with one note. And it was the greatest note I ever heard in my life.