Diane Schuurs

I met up with George Shearing about a year before my mother passed away. When I was 11 years old, Mama took me to the Edgewater Inn in Seattle and I was able to sit down and play piano for George and a lot of (the set list) was songs I had heard from the album, ‘Concerto For My Love.’ Then, after Mama died, my dad and I went to actually hear him perform at the Edgewater Inn when I was 12. Oh my gosh! It just really got me into playing piano.

[on Frank Sinatra] He was a compassionate guy. He loved to have fun. He had a movie theatre in his house. We munched on popcorn and watched movies together.

I’ve already done so much. The rest is just gravy, it’s like frosting on the cake

I was always exposed to music. Mom and dad would have the radio on constantly.

I try to keep my ego at the right size. No matter what, I just do my best to live in an attitude of gratitude.

As far back as I can remember, singing was in my blood. My parents loved music, and I loved to sing. I was scatting at an early age.

The true musician is to bring light into people’s hearts.

The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique.

It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.

Music’s been around a long time, and there’s going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If it’s a big record, that’s the frosting on the cake, but music’s the main meal.

I don’t like recording studios – except my own, which is just a little room above the garage.

Music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.

The main thing is you want to emote.

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

The greatest thing about music is putting it out there for people to figure out.

In Europe they look upon jazz as art. In America it’s a diversion. Somebody opens a restaurant and installs another band off to the side. People don’t listen.

Let me whisper it. Let me sigh it. Let me sing it, my dear or I will cry it.

I never practice my guitar. From time to time I just open the case and throw in a piece of raw meat.

I loved the feeling that I got singing.

When we were at the Apollo, Holiday was a block away. I asked her for her autograph.

If you got up on the bandstand at Minton’s and couldn’t play, you might get your ass kicked.