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
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
It's just someone has labelled us as having a different label to do what you do. I find that labels are the worst thing in the world for artistic expression. Ornette Coleman artisticbadexpression Change image and share on social
That's what I was trying to say when we were talking about sound. I think that every person, whether they play music or don't play music, has a sound - their own sound, that thing that you're talking about. Ornette Coleman musicpersonplay 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
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
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
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 remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she died from? From worrying about the mental patients not being able to get their food. She became a mental patient. Ornette Coleman bookdiefood 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
