Dizzy Gillespie

I try to teach by example and not force ideas on a young musician. We’re here to be part of a process of exchange.

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 don’t care much about music. What I like is sounds.

They’re not particular whether you’re playing a flat 5th or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance.

It’s taken me all my life to learn what not to play.

The sign of a mature musician is knowing what not to play.

I get interested in the various ways that music is being done in the culture, and some of it I like thoroughly enough to want to learn about it. The way I have been successful at doing that is to become part of it.

What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?

Actually, I think the more Ben [Taylor] sings, the less like James he sounds.

Jazz musicians have some outlaw in them somewhere.

Typically I go in the studio and whatever I’m contemplating that day will wind up being a song. I don’t come in with lyrics… I just go in and let it happen.

I say this because it’s a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don’t have that ability. I didn’t. I had to know what I was doing. And ultimately it turned out that these people weren’t able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians.I believe in things that are developed through hard work.

When I sing, trouble can sit right on my shoulder and I don’t even notice.

You can’t rehearse a blues darlin’.

I would’ve loved to have been in a band, but sadly I just wasn’t good enough.

The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.

The Blues and Jazz will live forever. So will the Delta and the Big Easy.

Jazz is music made by and for people who have chosen to feel good in spite of conditions.

The people who know nothing about music are the ones always talking about it.

I’m not a star. I’m just backing up the cats.

Everyone is working who should be.