Bebop didn’t have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn’t even have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging – but they weren’t sweet.
MILES DAVISBebop didn’t have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn’t even have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging – but they weren’t sweet.
MILES DAVISIt takes you years to learn how to play like yourself.
MILES DAVISJazz is like blues with a shot of heroin!
MILES DAVISI don’t care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing.
MILES DAVISI’ve always told the musicians in my band to play what they know and then play above that. Because then anything can happen, and that’s where great art and music happens.
MILES DAVISIf you understood everything I say, you’d be me!
MILES DAVISHe sounded to me like he’s supposed to be the savior of jazz. Sometimes people speak as though someone asked them a question. Well, no one asked him a question.
MILES DAVISWhat’s swinging in words? If a guy makes you pat your foot and if you feel it down your back, you don’t have to ask anybody if that’s good music or not. You can always feel it.
MILES DAVISIf you’re not nervous then you’re not paying attention.
MILES DAVISI’m not messing around with nobody’s woman. If I want a woman I go get her – you know what I mean?
MILES DAVISI never thought Jazz was meant to be a museum piece like other dead things once considered artistic.
MILES DAVISWe don’t play to be seen. I’m addicted to music, not audiences.
MILES DAVISJazz is an Uncle Tom word. They should stop using that word for selling. I told George Wein the other day that he should stop using it.
MILES DAVISIn high school I was best in music class on the trumpet, but the prizes went to the boys with blue eyes. I made up my mind to outdo anybody white on my horn.
MILES DAVISAlways listen for what you can leave out.
MILES DAVISI know what I’ve done for music, but don’t call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.
MILES DAVIS