The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a musician is he.
DUKE ELLINGTONArt is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don’t want it.
More Duke Ellington Quotes
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I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline!
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Tomorrow is in the wings waiting for you to sound her entrance fanfare.
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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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A goal is a dream with a finish line.
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I fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King’s son.
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Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.
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Dancing is very important to people who play music with a beat. I think that people who don’t dance, or who never did dance, don’t really understand the beat. I know musicians who don’t and never did dance, and they have difficulty communicating.
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Every man prays in his own language.
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If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!
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Problems are chances for us to do our best.
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What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?
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There is no art without intention.
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Without a deadline, baby, I wouldn’t do nothing.
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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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My biggest kick in music -playing or writing- is when I have a problem. Without a problem to solve, how much interest do you take in anything?
DUKE ELLINGTON