Nat King Cole

For years the Trio did nothing but play for musicians and other hip people. We practically starved to death.

I’m a musician at heart, I know I’m not really a singer. I couldn’t compete with real singers. But I sing because the public buys it.

Critics don’t buy records. They get ’em free.

I am famous because I am an African American jazz artist.

I can’t bear to see myself even in movies. The feeling is complex. I can’t stand the sight of myself.

If I could read it, I could play it.

When I got started in New York, if you were different from Miles and Dizzy it was very difficult.

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.

I’ve tried all my life to avoid copying. If I can’t be myself, there’s no point being in Jazz.

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.

If the bass plays the root, a pianist superimposes a Maj7 built on the 5th and the sax plays the 13th, will hot women notice?

The guitar chose me.

You should never be comfortable, man. Being comfortable fouled up a lot of musicians.

It doesn’t have to be happy music to be inspiring.

It’s true I’ve always been attracted to the jazz band in an orchestral way, rather than a band way.

I think the most important thing about playing is to walk out with confidence, look the people right in the eye and say ‘Here I am,’ and go and do your thing. As soon as they know you’re confident, they’re confident. As long as you adjust to them you’re not in trouble. You should eyeball them, find out what they want, and give it to them. They didn’t pay to come out and look at the tapestries.

Damn it, when I’m bombastic, I have my reasons. I want to be bombastic: take it or leave it.

Jazz music is a style, not compositions; any kind of music may be played in Jazz if one has the knowledge.

Jazz is letting everybody do his or her thing with the music.

He’s not a performer, he’s not a composer, he’s not even a musician, but Norman Granz is Mr. Jazz.

I don’t dig staying in one groove.