Rudy Van Gelder

Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do and then just go for it. I never know what the public’s going to like, anyway.

They’re not particular about whether you’re playing a flatted fifth or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance to it.

He almost adds a Chet-like sound to it.

I learn something new every day.

Sounds of daily life are musical. I try to absorb the intricacies of sounds as if I were listening to music.

Jazz goes into my coffee in the morning, in my wine at night.

Stevie didn’t use the technology to drive the song. He used it to enhance. I use the tools to further my work, I don’t use my work to further the tools.

The reason I write music is that I feel it’s a vehicle or channel which leads to your true self, your essence.

The high note is not the only thing.

The spirit of Jazz is the spirit of openness.

The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way.

I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved. And to know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me. Forgive me if I don’t have all the words. Maybe I can sing it and you’ll understand.

Learn the tunes by playing the masters, learn expression by playing yourself.

I’m always looking to create new avenues or new visions of music.

There’s a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There’s also happiness to it if you want to hear it. Blues was started by the slaves and I think everybody thinks that it all should be sad… even some of the slaves had fun with it.