Steve Lacy

Jazz is like wine. When it is new it’s only for the experts, but when it gets older everybody wants it.

There’s a lot of recreational Jazz going on, where cats learn a particular style and become sharks on somebody else’s language.

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

Risk is at the heart of Jazz. Every note we play is a risk.

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

In fifteen seconds the difference between composition and improvisation is that in composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in fifteen seconds, while in improvisation you have fifteen seconds.

Jazz is one of the few things you can do in society to express yourself freely and creatively.

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

The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn’t know how other people would take it.

I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It’s time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It’s time for us to do it ourselves and tell it like it is.

I never have any trouble playing anything I can think of. The trouble is thinking of what to play.

If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

The arranger doesn’t get any royalties, but I had so much fun doing it.

Is there a meaning to music? Yes. Can you state in so many words what the meaning is? No.

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

I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

Jazz is rhythm and meaning.

Play what you feel, feel what you play.

If a Jazz musician plays someone else’s song, he has a responsibility to make a distinct and original statement.

The true value of this music lies in an artist’s individual creativity and that unique process of expression which is Jazz.

Risk is at the heart of Jazz. Every note we play is a risk.