Herbie Hancock

I think I was supposed to play Jazz.

The spirit of Jazz is the spirit of openness.

Creativity shouldn’t be following radio; it should be the other way around.

A great teacher stimulates his student’s creativity enough so that they go out and find the answers themselves.

The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique.

I’m always interested in looking forward toward the future. Carving out new ways of looking at things.

I never believed in a set routine. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

Canada has a passive-aggressive culture, with a lot of sarcasm and righteousness. That went with my weird messianic complex. The ego is a fascinating monster. I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.

Our music is generally the music I would play way back when I was in the record business. So I’ll play World Waiting For The Sunrise and How High The Moon, maybe Over The Rainbow, some standards. But it depends upon the artist that comes up – if people like a certain kind of music, I will focus the show that way. Whoever walks up on to the stage is the star – he is the picture, we are the frame. The frame is there to make the star look better – let’s make this fellow the best he’s ever going to be.

Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God.

Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away!

Your sound is you and what you really feel inside.

Of the whole bunch of guys who play hollow body guitar, I think Herb Ellis has the most drive.

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.

Man, all music is folk music. You ain’t never heard no horse sing a song, have you?

If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

I’ve had the pleasure of playing with the baddest Jazz cats on the planet.

Jazz music is a style, not compositions; any kind of music may be played in Jazz if one has the knowledge.

Records used to be documents, but now record companies want product.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.

When Hank Jones had his night off, I would get somebody to take my place as intermission pianist and I’d play the show with Ella, so I would get a chance to play with Ray Brown and Charlie Smith as well.