Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.

Quote by Lee Konitz

Topics: Lee Konitz Quotes

Many people do think it's naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I'm not...

Many people do think it's naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I'm not...

I love Indian music very much, but I haven't studied that specifically.

I love Indian music very much, but I haven't studied that specifically.

After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a...

After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a...

Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all...

Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all...

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

Names and theoretical things don't occur to me. If they do, I'm not doing my...

Names and theoretical things don't occur to me. If they do, I'm not doing my...

In some ways Lester Young is the most complex rhythmically of any musician. He does...

In some ways Lester Young is the most complex rhythmically of any musician. He does...

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player....

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player....

I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn't satisfying enough for me....

I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn't satisfying enough for me....

A lot of bands were doing remotes from ballrooms around the country.

A lot of bands were doing remotes from ballrooms around the country.

It's very demanding to make up your own music.

It's very demanding to make up your own music.

I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The...

I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The...

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there...

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there...

I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I...

I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I...

I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.

I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.

We all learn from each other, and I never really hung out with guys in...

We all learn from each other, and I never really hung out with guys in...

You just keep playing. If someone special comes along and organizes it in a new...

You just keep playing. If someone special comes along and organizes it in a new...

I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't...

I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't...

It was 100 percent music. There was no ego involved, no attitudes, no black and...

It was 100 percent music. There was no ego involved, no attitudes, no black and...