Quotes » John Coltrane

Source: ~www.johncoltrane.com

Quotes » Benny Carter

"He is all that every jazz musician the world over wants to be. He's performed 20,000 nights. How many shoes have been shined? How much mascara put on? Rouge? How many of those impossible bowties have been tied? How many love songs have been sung? How many dances have been danced? How many have passed to the sound of his music? It's been said that a man should not be forced to live up to his art. Benny Carter is one of the rare instances when we wonder whether the great art that a man has created can live up to him."

─Wynton Marsalis 
(excerpt from remarks at Kennedy Center Honors program, 12/3/96)

Source: ~www.bennycarter.com

Quotes » Erroll Garner

"...Garner is the single most important piano stylist of the past 35 years.. Most every piano player who has heard Erroll Garner owes him something... Garner epitomizes all that makes jazz the great music of our age... He is a natural... His music communicates to those who know nothing of the meaning of the word jazz. His music is serious, yet joyous. He has developed an individuality of style that has blessed only the greatest exponents of music... To put it simply, Erroll Garner is a great musical genius. He has given me some of the most memorable and musical moments of my life."

─George Wein (impresario/producer)

Source: ~Erroll Garner Archives

Quotes» Gerry Mulligan

"Gerry Mulligan occupies a unique place in the American musical scene. As composer, arranger, saxophonist and conductor, he played a vital role in the history of modern jazz and contemporary music.

As one of the great jazz innovators, his writing and playing influenced entire stylistic movements, including both "cool jazz" and "bossa nova." He also wrote for Musicals, Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra."

Source & Official website of Gerry Mulligan (home): ~www.gerrymulligan.com/home

Quotes» "McCoy Tyner"

"It's important to utilize the talents that we have, keep moving forward and be happy ─ that's the icing on the cake."

─McCoy Tyner

Source & McCoy Tyner's official website: ~mccoytyner.com

Quotes » Stan Getz

Stan Getz says:

"There are four qualities essential to a great jazzman. They are taste, courage, individuality, and irreverence.

These are the qualities I want to retain in my music."

Source (Stan Getz Community): ~stangetz.ning.com

Stan Getz's official website: ~www.stangetz.net

Quotes » Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday says;

"I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close-order drill or exercise or yodeling or something, not music."

Source: ~www.billieholiday.com

Quotes: "Kenny Burrell"

"It's important to help people understand how valuable and how important jazz is, and also to make them understand that this music is theirs, that it's a part of them.

When more people learn to understand and appreciate it, it's going to be a win-win."

from the "Every Note Swings" interview of: ~all·about·jazz

Quotes: "Coleman Hawkins"

Miles Davis once said:

"When I heard Hawk (Coleman Hawkins), I learned to play ballads."

~wikipedia

Quotes: "Dexter Gordon"

(Dexter) Gordon's height was 6 feet 6 inches (about 198 cm), and so consequently he was also known as 'Long Tall Dexter'.

~www.amazon.com

Quotes: "Louis Armstrong"

Anyone can learn what Louis Armstrong knows about music in a few weeks. Nobody could learn to play like him in a thousand years.


— Benny Green

Quotes: "Leonard Feather"

...Recently I read a statement by an obviously upset jazz musician who said: "I don't want to hear pleasant music today. I want to hear screaming and hollering and kicking and biting. That's what the world's all about today."

I'm afraid Horace Silver will offer him no solace..

Leonard Feather, 
from the liner notes of Horace Silver's album: "The Jody Grind"

Quotes: "McCoy Tyner"

"My mother gave me a choice. She said, 'Would you like to take singing lessons or piano.' I'm glad I chose piano."

McCoy Tyner

~mccoytyner.com

Quotes: "Duke Ellington"

"By and large, Jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with."

Duke Ellington

~www.dukeellington.com