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

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

I wanted to be a pianist but it just wasn't my thing. I guess I...

I wanted to be a pianist but it just wasn't my thing. I guess I...

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.

Register is very important. Music sounds best in a certain register.

Register is very important. Music sounds best in a certain register.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

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...

Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can...

Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can...

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

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

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

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

The soprano turned out to sound to me like the right hand on the piano.

The soprano turned out to sound to me like the right hand on the piano.

Bamboo is not a weed, it's a flowering plant. Bamboo is a magnificent plant.

Bamboo is not a weed, it's a flowering plant. Bamboo is a magnificent plant.

I was spoiled by Monk's music because it was so good, so complete.

I was spoiled by Monk's music because it was so good, so complete.

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.

Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite....

Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite....

I fell in love with jazz when I was 12 years old from listening to...

I fell in love with jazz when I was 12 years old from listening to...

Some people really want to play Mozart and be just performers. I was more interested...

Some people really want to play Mozart and be just performers. I was more interested...

The soprano has all those other instruments in it. It's got the soprano song voice,...

The soprano has all those other instruments in it. It's got the soprano song voice,...

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...

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.

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.

I heard Sidney Bechet play a Duke Ellington piece and fell in love with the...

I heard Sidney Bechet play a Duke Ellington piece and fell in love with the...