Sammy Nestico

Musicianship is using your two ears.

You never get it figured out. You just keep playing.

[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 essentials of Jazz are: melodic improvisation, melodic invention, swing and instrumental personality.

You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re working without any real feeling.

I am attracted to Jazz music for the idea of being in the moment and communicating to people spontaneously.

I have music inside me and I’m very lucky to be able to play music and that’s the way that I try to do it.

Jazz music is a language of the emotions.

There’s so much music out there and so many possibilities. I like anyone who plays any instrument.

Albert King wasn’t my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues!

I play the way I do cause it allows me to come up w/ the sickest sounds possible. That’s the point now isn’t it?

I have a deep respect for harmony, melodic patterns and form.

Music should always be an adventure.

When you just get mixed up and there’s too much going on, then it’s time to pick up your guitar.

The fans dictate to you when you’re done!

When there was vinyl, I just loved opening a record and smelling that wonderful smell.