Reggie Workman

For a long time I wasn’t listening to music, to the rock and roll stuff on the radio, because it would cause me to get sweaty–it would bring back memories I didn’t want to know about, or I would get that feeling that I’m not alive ’cause I’m not making it. And if it was good, I hated it ’cause I wasn’t doing it. And if it was bad, I was furious ’cause I could’ve done it better…

Jazz is one of the best things that you can find in your life, it can always be your friend.

What don’t I want to learn? I have how-to books, history, nature. Ain’t nobody here saying, ‘You’d better learn this.’ But I still think I’ve got a head on my shoulders, and it pleases me.

Those who were seen dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music.

I could see the blues was about survival.

Being a musician is what I do, but it’s not what I am.

I’m trying to get people to see that we are our brother’s keeper. Red, white, black, brown or yellow, rich or poor, we all have the blues.

I do not wear my emotions on my sleeve; I write about them.

Master your instrument, master the music and then forget all that and just play.

Improvisation is the ability to talk to oneself.

Practice 15 or 20 years and then it comes out spontaneously.

Music is everybody’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people own it.

If a jazz player is really playing, the classical player will have to respect him.

Jazz musician is a combination entertainer, poet, singer, educator, student, artist, seducer and all-round good fellow.

Jazz stands for freedom.