When I first arrived (in New York), it seemed to me the most terrifying city in the world… all those big buildings.
BENNY GOODMANWhen I first arrived (in New York), it seemed to me the most terrifying city in the world… all those big buildings.
BENNY GOODMANPeople have often said to me, ‘You’re so relaxed when you play.’ Relaxed my elbow. It’s practice.
BENNY GOODMANI think my first impression (of Bix Beiderbecke) was the lasting one. I remember very clearly thinking, ‘Where, what planet, did this guy come from? Is he from outer space?’
BENNY GOODMANCreativity grows out of two things: curiosity & imagination.
BENNY GOODMANIt takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.
BENNY GOODMANYou have to have the courage and confidence in your own ability. You have to know what the hell and who the hell you are in this business. Music may change, but I don’t think that ever will.
BENNY GOODMANIf you want to do something, you do it anyway, and handle the obstacles as they come.
BENNY GOODMANIf I have something I want to do, I make a business of doing it.
BENNY GOODMANOne way or the other, if you want to find reasons why you shouldn’t keep on, you’ll find ‘em. The obstacles are all there; there are a million of ‘em.
BENNY GOODMANI remember Glenn Miller coming to me once, before he had his own band, saying, How do you do it? How do you get started? It’s so difficult. I told him, I don’t know but whatever you do don’t stop. Just keep on going.
BENNY GOODMANToo many young musicians today want to win polls before they learn their instruments.
BENNY GOODMANSometimes when you start losing detail, whether it’s in music or in life, something as small as failing to be polite, you start to lose substance.
BENNY GOODMANI’d imagine that a lot of them criticized me-said my technique was too good. Something like that. But I’ve always wanted to know what made music. How you do it, and why it sounds good. I always practiced, worked like hell.
BENNY GOODMANI’d never heard anything like the way he played-not in Chicago, no place. The tone-he had this wonderful, ringing cornet tone. He could have played in a symphony orchestra with that tone. But also the intervals he played, the figures-whatever the hell he did.
BENNY GOODMANTo this day, I don’t like people walking on stage not looking good. You have to look good. If you feel special about yourself then you’re going to play special.
BENNY GOODMANAfter you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have a good time.
BENNY GOODMAN