When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an awful lot of imitation going on now.

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations...

What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations...

You can work on the saxophone alone, but ultimately you must perform with others.

You can work on the saxophone alone, but ultimately you must perform with others.

You have to sound sad first of all, then maybe later you can sound good.

You have to sound sad first of all, then maybe later you can sound good.

It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth...

It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth...

Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.

Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

You must have the music to justify an instrument's extensive use.

You must have the music to justify an instrument's extensive use.

Nobody was playing the soprano saxophone and certainly nobody was trying to do anything with...

Nobody was playing the soprano saxophone and certainly nobody was trying to do anything with...

Jazz is like wine. When it is new, it is only for the experts, but...

Jazz is like wine. When it is new, it is only for the experts, but...

I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed.

I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed.

Before the work comes to you, you have to invent work.

Before the work comes to you, you have to invent work.

I've performed solo for 20 years now, but I don't do much of it, because...

I've performed solo for 20 years now, but I don't do much of it, because...

We played for peanuts. But we did what we wanted to do, we heard what...

We played for peanuts. But we did what we wanted to do, we heard what...

I still love the whole history of jazz. The old things sound better than ever.

I still love the whole history of jazz. The old things sound better than ever.

There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people...

There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people...

Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.

Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.

When I heard Monk in person in 1955, he was playing with a quartet in...

When I heard Monk in person in 1955, he was playing with a quartet in...

I started in New Orleans music and played all through the history of jazz.

I started in New Orleans music and played all through the history of jazz.

When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn....

When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn....

If you have music you want to play that no one asks you to play,...

If you have music you want to play that no one asks you to play,...