Joe Williams

The louder they [the band] play the softer I sing.

It’s not that you want to sing, it’s that you have to sing.

Jazz has an aesthetic intimacy, a romantic transference.

Musicians have the intimacy of bringing two people together and the aesthetic, romantic transference.

You know why I quit playing ballads? Cause I love playing ballads.

If a guy’s got it, let him give it. I’m selling music, not prejudice.

Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one’s own.

When I got my first guitar my fingers wouldn’t go to the sixth string so I took off the big E and played with just five strings. I was only 6 or 7.

Even if you have some brilliant jazz ideas, it’s going to be difficult to get them across unless you have 1-a distinctive sound or 2- a loud sound. These are musts.

Music used to be essential and meaningful, but now it’s disposable.

Music activates the brain at a high level.

Musicians should never forget we’re blessed. We have a special gift that people enjoy through us.

If you feel like tapping your feet, tap your feet.

Jazz and love are the hardest things to describe from rationale.

Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Let’s just go walking in the rain.

It’s not exclusive, but inclusive, which is the whole spirit of jazz.

When I achieved what I thought the musicians were trying to do, the sound sort of bloomed. When it’s right, everything is beautiful.

I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is ’cause I’m changing all the time.

I wasn’t interested in practicing Bach; I was too busy digging Horace Silver!