Top 26 Quotes by Lee Konitz

I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don't want to know that. I just want to know that there's a combination of notes that makes a sound.

Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all the periods.

I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't enjoy listening to.

You just keep playing. If someone special comes along and organizes it in a new way, then you'll have another approach and everybody will jump on it to try to learn.

It was 100 percent music. There was no ego involved, no attitudes, no black and white, it was pure music.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be some jazz.

I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The clarinet was what we call a double.

Names and theoretical things don't occur to me. If they do, I'm not doing my real playing mode.

I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.