Joe Pass

Using drugs didn’t help me play, all it did was hang me up for 15 years.

You don’t rehearse Jazz to death to get the camera angles.

Let me whisper it. Let me sigh it. Let me sing it, my dear or I will cry it.

In my world, the first thing I reach for is the sound.

One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.

It’s just exciting to be part of something that is brand-new.

I look for a deep, gutty feelin’ in a guitar tone. I don’t use picks. People ask, “How you get that?” It’s just there. There’s a lot of people try to play real fast chords-da da da da da-that ain’t the hard, solid blues. It’s synthetic. It has not feeling to it. You sit down and play some funky, funky guitar. Take your time! Don’t rush it. Just let it come flowing through you. I can play guitar so funky, it’ll bring teardrops to your eyes.

When it comes to music, don’t lie to yourself; just tell yourself the truth.

I am an improviser, I improvise music. Whatever you want to call it, it’s all improvised music. I may capture it and go back and write it down for others, but it was originally improvised.

You must own it to play it.

In this trumpet I hear our icons and the sound of the future.

The great jazz instrumentalists taught me how to sing and interpret a song. they showed me how a horn can have as much personality as an actor.

He’s not a performer, he’s not a composer, he’s not even a musician, but Norman Granz is Mr. Jazz.

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.

To imitate someone is to insult them.

You could still improvise but do it with lyrics.