Duke Ellington

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Playing ‘bop’ is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.

By and large Jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with.

The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.

The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.

There are so many sounds I still want to make, so many things I haven’t yet done.

New artists can own their content and completely build their base and their following without having to sell or be owned by anybody and it creates such a diversity.

My fans are the best in the world! They’ve grown up with me and stayed with me through this entire journey.

Jazz translates the moment into a sense of inspiration for not only the musicians but for the listeners.

If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you’re going to the bank to borrow money.

There are notes between notes, you know.

The main thing is you want to emote.

There’s always room for improvisation or changes of expression.

I want a kick to my band, but I don’t want the rhythm to hog the spotlight.

If a guy is gonna to play good bop, he has to have a sort of a bop soul.

Breathe…. breathe a lot!

Audiences are smart. They are not going to come out to see you unless you are honest.

If you’re making money people don’t think you’re playing Jazz. When you’re not making money they think you’re a great Jazz musician.

Jazz amounts to Blues, your unique sound and the elusive genius of improvisation.

As a little kid, blues meant hope, excitement, pure emotion. Blues were about feelings. They seem to bring out the feelings of the artist and they brought out my feelings as a kid. They made me wanna move, or sing, or pick up Reverend’s guitar and figure out how to make those wonderful sounds.