Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.
DUKE ELLINGTONThere are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it’s successful; if it doesn’t it has failed.
More Duke Ellington Quotes
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Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.
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I don’t believe in categories of any kind, and when you speak of problems between blacks and whites in the U.S.A. you are referring to categories again.
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Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else.
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Gray skies are just clouds passing over.
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I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.
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A goal is a dream with a finish line.
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If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band!
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A Satin Doll is a woman who is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.
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I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline!
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I don’t need time, I need a deadline.
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A problem is a chance for you to do your best.
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Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn’t want me to be too famous too young.
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Love is indescribable and unconditional. I could tell you a thousand things that it is not, but not one that it is. Either you have it or you haven’t; there’s no proof of it.
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Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.
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What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?
DUKE ELLINGTON






