Oscar Peterson

It’s the group sound that’s important, even when you’re playing a solo. You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That’s jazz.

I don’t believe that a lot of the things I hear on the air today are going to be played for as long a time as Coleman Hawkins records or Brahms concertos.

I don’t do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn’t care less. If it sells one, it sells one.

I have no one style.

I don’t do something because I think it’ll sell 30 million albums. I couldn’t care less if it sells just one.

I play as I feel.

We’re more popular than Jesus Christ now. I don’t know which will go first; rock and roll or Christianity.

I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.

It’s about getting the sound to flow from your body and allowing that sound to get to the piano.

I’ve had those people very interested in my writing. Since I think of myself as a composer, I feel really good. I’ve had lots of guys call me up. I’ve gotten two or three commissions to write things. I’ve written lots of movie scores.

What we play is life.

Play for the spiritual aspect, the emotion.

Regardless of what you play, the biggest thing is keeping the feel going.

I always wanted to be a spontaneous composer.

To get the music the way you want it, there’s a lot of work involved.

Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.

Listening to the Fifth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for 45 minutes.

You usually can’t tell what’s inspiring until you look back on it.

Composing is a mindset, a part of who I am.

Surrender your whole being to a note and gravity disappears.

There’s a category for me. I like to be referred to as a good singer of good songs in good taste.