Stan Getz

Musically, I love to talk just off the top of my head and that’s what Jazz is all about.

My life is music, and in some vague, mysterious and subconscious way, I have always been driven by a taut inner spring which has propelled me to almost compulsively reach for perfection in music, often -in fact, mostly -at the expense of everything else in my life.

I learn something new every day.

Life is too full of distractions nowadays. When I was a kid we had a little Emerson radio and that was it. We were more dedicated. We didn’t have a choice.

I never have any trouble playing anything I can think of. The trouble is thinking of what to play.

You can read all the textbooks and listen to all the records, but you have to play with musicians that are better than you.

I love songs that are very autobiographical.

Jazz means many things to many people, but it’s all about choices.

The fact that an artist is experiencing the joy of creation makes me feel like we’re in it together.

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.

The more you listen, the more your hear.

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.

Miles Davis is one who writes songs when he plays.

A beat is a moment in the life a groove.

A Jazz musician is supposed to find his voice, find his niche and do his thing.

I never practice my guitar. From time to time I just open the case and throw in a piece of raw meat.

A Jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.

Jazz singing is like pornography. You can’t say what it is, but you know it when you see it.

I tried to connect my singing voice to my guitar an’ my guitar to my singing voice. Like the two was talking to one another.

I don’t intend to be a performing flea anymore. I was the dreamweaver, but although I’ll be around I don’t intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don’t want to die at 40.

There are no natural barriers. It’s all music.