When I joined the trio, it was as if I was capable of driving a sports car at 60, but Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson just kept pressing the pedal down, and I was trying to control the car at 80!

he signed his work .. you could always tell when it was Herb Ellis playing
BARNEY KESSEL

Herbs Music Play Sign Tell Work
I’m not interested in a marketable product: I’m interested in what I know from my life experience to be standards of excellence
BARNEY KESSEL

Excellence Experience Life Standard
Charlie Christians’ contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons’ contributions to the world.
BARNEY KESSEL

Christian Guitar Music
Playing scales is like a boxer skipping rope or punching a bag. It’s not the thing in itself; it’s preparatory to the activity
BARNEY KESSEL

Funny Inspiring Music
Charlie Christian showed me a lot, and was a great help, but even then, I realised that if I was going to make it, it was no use copying Charlie
BARNEY KESSEL

Funny Inspiring Music
When I joined the trio, it was as if I was capable of driving a sports car at 60, but Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson just kept pressing the pedal down, and I was trying to control the car at 80!
BARNEY KESSEL

Car Music Sports

More Barney Kessel Quotes