Mose Allison

Once we’re inside a tune, we can do anything with it.

Men have died for this music. You can’t get more serious than that.

Jazz music is collective creativity.

Your daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’ So hush little baby don’t you cry.

In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.

They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art.

We didn’t have any segregation at the Cotton Club. No. The Cotton Club was wide open, it was free

I consider myself a poet first and a musician second. I live like a poet and I’ll die like a poet.

Jazz to me is a living music. It’s a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, hopes, of the people.

Everyone is working who should be.

If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.

As long as you’ve got your horn in your mouth, you’re developing.

The fans dictate to you when you’re done!

I want to keep redefining my work and trying new things. I want my music to be able to fit into any category. I want it to float wherever my heart goes. My music is heart music; giving it any other description is dangerous.

I’m meant to be an artist who can stand on my own. That’s my place; that’s what I’m supposed to do.