black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.

Miles Davis

In 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 DAVIS

Best Discrimination Musician Myself White
I never thought that the music called “jazz” was ever meant to reach just a small group of people, or become a museum thing locked under glass like all the other dead things that were once considered artistic.
MILES DAVIS

Artistic Music People Reach Thinking
Always look ahead, but never look back.
MILES DAVIS

Forward Future Past See
I like Stan [Getz], because he has so much patience, the way he plays those melodies – other people can’t get nothing out of a song, but he can, which takes a lot of imagination.
MILES DAVIS

Imagination Myself Patience People Play
There are no wrong notes in jazz: only notes in the wrong places.
MILES DAVIS

Note Place Wrong
My father’s rich, my momma’s good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I’ve never suffered and don’t intend to suffer.
MILES DAVIS

Father Myself Play Suffering
I think every Negro over fifty should get a medal for putting up with all that crap.
MILES DAVIS

Thinking Tolerance
Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.
MILES DAVIS

Instrument Man Myself Player
I know what I’ve done for music, but don’t call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.
MILES DAVIS

Call Known Legend Music Myself
All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.
MILES DAVIS

Idol Inspirational Myself
I can’t write anything for myself. I can write when I hear like [John] Coltrane play something; I used to write chords and stuff for him to play in one bar. I can write for other people, but I don’t never write for myself.
MILES DAVIS

Lyrics Music Myself People Play Writing
That was my gift having the ability to put certain guys together that would create a chemistry and then letting them go; letting them play what they knew, and above it.
MILES DAVIS

Ability Chemistry Known Play Togetherness
There are no wrong notes.
MILES DAVIS

Music Notes One Liner Wrong
Jazz 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 DAVIS

Music Myself Sell Word
When you work with great musicians, they are always a part of you . . . their spirits are walking around in me, so they’re still here and passing it on to others.
MILES DAVIS

Greatness Musician Spirit Walk Work Yourself
It’s not about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating they have to be about change.
MILES DAVIS

Change Creation Safety Stand Yourself

You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Miles Davis Quotes