Pete Christlieb

It’s easy to play any musical instrument, just touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.

Music must be an innovation.

Sometimes I just think that there are more things to be said to make the audience understand what I’m trying to do more. When I’m singing, I don’t want you to just hear the melody. I want you to relive the story, because most of the songs have pretty good storytelling.

I’m fortunate that I’m making a living at it now because I’m not equipped to do anything else.

In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, now heaven knows, anything goes.

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

I’m going to be on the road for the rest of my life.

We recorded to document ourselves, not to sell a lot of records.

To be a true artist you have to play the way you feel not the way others think you should feel.

One of the advantages of growing older is you learn what to leave out.

Eliminating the piano means that I’ve always worked closer with the bass than most players.

I’ve been a jazz artist playing pop and R&B my entire career.

Jazz demands that you bring to it things that are valuable to you, that are personal to you.

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

In this era it’s harder for musicians to get together, … Back in the ’80s, we were all at the clubs, you ran into people all the time. Now, everybody’s kind of in their own room with their computers. I use making an album as an opportunity to connect with musicians.