Stan Getz

Other than conversation, no other art form can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction like Jazz.

I compulsively reach for perfection in music, often at the expense of everything else in my life.

There are four qualities essential to a great jazzman. They are taste, courage, individuality, and irreverence. These are the qualities I want to retain in my music.

A good quartet is like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other’s ideas.

My dark sound could be heard across a room clearer than somebody with a reedy sound. It had more projection. My sound always seemed to fill a room.

People involve themselves with the superficiality of Jazz without digging for its soul.

In order to complete your cycle, a musician needs to write; document what is going through your mind and where you are harmonically, theoretically, historically.

Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor.

Sometimes there are no gigs, but the main thing is still the music.

Invest yourself in everything you do. There’s fun in being serious.

Jazz music is haunted by its own hungry ghosts.

If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time!

I’ve sung a lot of emotional songs, but when you’re writing it’s very difficult to decide what to reveal.

Live music is best! Make plans to get out and support your local Jazz scene.

It isn’t where you came from, its where you’re going that counts.

Musicianship is using your two ears.

Anyone who doesn’t give [his debut album, The College Dropout] a perfect score is lowering the integrity of the magazine

We quest for the perfect performance and every note has to be right. Man, every note is not right in life.

For years the Trio did nothing but play for musicians and other hip people. We practically starved to death.

I love Jazz because it has the perfect balance of discipline and freedom.

Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God.