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 just makes that person feel that what his work is is going to be more valid. But who wants to see a guy standing in front, looking like a bum, doing something that a bums don't do? This don't make sense. Ornette Coleman bumfeelfront 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
I've been playing with Blackwell over 20 years. We used to play when I first went to Los Angeles. Blackwell plays the drums as if he's playing a wind instrument. Actually, he sounds more like a talking drum. Ornette Coleman angelesblackwelldrum 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
I don't know what they're thinking about. Just because someone says, 'I like what you do' or something: They might like it today and tomorrow they might not. I've had that experience with record companies. Ornette Coleman companyexperiencehave 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've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they would get fired, and I'd be left with the record company. And then - because they got fired - the record company wouldn't do anything for me. Ornette Coleman companyexecutivefire 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
