Kenny Barron

It’s not uncomfortable for me to be a sideman, but I feel more comfortable as a bandleader.

And ultimately the people who produce my records, they know that they’re here to serve the purpose of me expressing who I am at this period of time and augmenting that or pulling it forward and I love that process.

[moving to Las Vegas] It was sort of like a man getting married – you don’t have to go out looking for girls, you’ve got your girl with you. I could go to casinos any time I had money and wanted to, so I actually went less.

The violin, the saxophone, the trumpet: Each makes a very different sound but the very same notes. That’s pretty heavy, you know ? Imagine how many different races make up the human race. I’m called colored, you’re called white, he’s called something else. We still got an asshole and a mouth. Pardon me.

I started in New Orleans music and played all through the history of Jazz.

If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.

Women have not been socialized to play drums. It’s not natural for us to hit thing.

Everybody that you could name would join in our audiences from, Laguardia on down. Everybody came. Everybody came to the Cotton Club.

I was always exposed to music. Mom and dad would have the radio on constantly.

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

Life is not about finding our limitations, it’s about finding our infinity.

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

It’s difficult for me to dislike an artist, no matter what he’s creating.

If my own work had more importance than any others, it’s because the piano is the key instrument in music.

My fans are the best in the world! They’ve grown up with me and stayed with me through this entire journey.

What don’t I want to learn? I have how-to books, history, nature. Ain’t nobody here saying, ‘You’d better learn this.’ But I still think I’ve got a head on my shoulders, and it pleases me.