Jimi Hendrix

Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.

I’m the one that has to die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to.

Forget about upholding the tradition and just play who you really are.

In a way, I started out to be a baritone player.

If jazz has to be termed as a wave, then music is a sea, but if the reflectors in the water is the chord.

People always ask, “Why jazz?” and I’m like “Why not?” It’s kind of like asking Seurat, “Why so many dots?” I imagine if you asked Bjork, “Why the Tibetan bells?” She’d probably be like “That’s just what I heard.” It’s the same thing. This is just the way I see music.

I don’t compose. I assemble materials.

Those who wish to sing, always find a song.

You must own it to play it.

I’m very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it’s a different feeling I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it’s because it’s something I love to do.

It is better to be felt than to be heard.

I’d take my guitar and play on the streets. A gospel song would get me a pat on the head. But a blues would get me a dime. So you see why I stuck with the blues.

I am inclined to just write music and not worry about what people can or can’t do.

I’m trying to make music a sensual expression, not and academic experiment.

I’m famous… ain’t that a bitch?

We go in there and we work on altering those ideas and in many cases go in different directions.

I felt like I was making a record under the radar, and that is my favorite way to do anything.