I asked my mother could I have an instrument. She said, 'Well if you go out and save your money.' So I went and got - I made me a shine box. I went out and started shining shoes, and I'd bring whatever I made. Ornette Coleman askboxbring share on social
It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something. Ornette Coleman findknowmake Change image and share on social
You've got to realize. In the western world, regardless of what color you are, what title the music is, it's all played by the same notes. Ornette Coleman colorhavemusic Change image and share on social
To me, human existence exists on a multiple level, not just on a two-dimensional level, not just having to be identified with what you do and what you say. Ornette Coleman dimensionalexistexistence Change image and share on social
You don't have to worry about being a number one, number two, or number three. Numbers don't have anything to do with placement. Numbers only have something to do with repetition. Ornette Coleman numbnumberplacement Change image and share on social
Even when you write it, someone's got to play it. So if you can play it and bypass all the rest of the things, you're still doing as great as someone that has spent forty years trying to find out how to do that. I'm really pro-human beings, pro-expression of everything. Ornette Coleman beingbypassexpression share on social
Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I always tell people, 'I think of myself as a composer.' Ornette Coleman composeroriginallypeople Change image and share on social
I had a really good time in New Orleans, although I had some very tragic times in Baton Rouge. Some guys beat me up and threw my horn away. 'Cause I had a beard, then, and long hair like the Beatles. Ornette Coleman batonbeardbeat Change image and share on social
Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh man, what is that! That must be fantastic!' Ornette Coleman bandelementaryfantastic Change image and share on social
Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time. Ornette Coleman differentlyjazzmusic Change image and share on social
