My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being…When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups…I want to speak to their souls.
JOHN COLTRANEDon’t ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person.
More John Coltrane Quotes
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I think I was first awakened to musical exploration by Dizzy Gillespie and Bird. It was through their work that I began to learn about musical structures and the more theoretical aspects of music.
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God breathes through us so completely, So gently we hardly feel it, yet it is our everything.
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Considering the great heritage in music that we have – the work of the giants of the past, the present, and the promise of those who are to come – I feel that we have every reason to face the future optimistically.
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I want to be a force for real good. In other words, I know there are bad forces. You know, I know that there are forces out here that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.
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I believe that men are here to grow themselves into the best good that they can be – at least, this is what I want to do.
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I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of people.
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I never even thought about whether or not they understand what I’m doing, the emotional reaction is all that matters as long as there’s some feeling of communication, it isn’t necessary that it be understood.
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Whatever I’d say would be an understatement. I can only say my life was made much better by knowing him. He was one of the greatest people I’ve ever known, as a man, a friend, and a musician.
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Damn the rules, it’s the feeling that counts.
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All of the technique doesn’t matter only if the feeling is right.
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Change is inevitable in music – things change.
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Jazz is a word they use to sell our music, but to me that word does not exist.
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The reason I play so many sounds, maybe it sounds angry, is because I’m trying so many things at one time, you see? I haven’t sorted them out. I have a whole bag of things that I’m trying to work through and get the one essential.
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Don’t ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person.
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Any time you play your horn, it helps you. If you get down, you can help yourself even in a rock ‘n’ roll band.
JOHN COLTRANE