All Quotes

There's the tradition in jazz of having the Battle of the Bands, and you do not want to get your head cut when you're playing. ”

When people dress well, they play well. ”

I sounded like myself. People be saying I sound like Miles or Clifford Brown. ”

Everything comes out in blues music: joy, pain, struggle. Blues is affirmation with absolute elegance. It's about a man and a woman. So the pain and the struggle in the blues is that universal pain that comes from having your heart broken. Most blues songs are not about social statements. ”

The bandstand is a sacred place. ”

There really have only ever been a few people in each generation who step out, are willing to put themselves on the line, and risk everything for their beliefs. ”

Because the blues is the basis of most American music in the 20th century. It's a 12-bar form that's played by jazz, bluegrass and country musicians. It has a rhythmic vocabulary that's been used by rock n' roll. It's related to spirituals, and even the American fiddle tradition. ”

I feel like a lot of the fundamental material, I've assimilated. So now the question is: Am I going to really get into my spiritual inheritance of music and really develop my abilities? ”

Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead a nation to change. ”

When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change? ”