Boris Vian

There are only two things: love, all sorts of love, with pretty girls, and the music of New Orleans or Duke Ellington. Everything else ought to go, because everything else is ugly. ”

The three great moments of my life had to be the concerts of Ellington in 1938, Dizzy in '48, and Ella in '52. ”

One ends up relying on pure musical inspiration, and failing that, the music won't lead to anything good, or it will alienate all but the most die-hard fans. ”