After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.

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 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...

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...

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

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

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

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....

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...

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

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 just completed a tour in Europe. I played every night. This requires traveling some...

I just completed a tour in Europe. I played every night. This requires traveling some...

A first love always occupies a special place.

A first love always occupies a special place.

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.

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...

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....

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 have been able to get a small audience. It's not the huge audience, but...

I have been able to get a small audience. It's not the huge audience, but...

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...

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...

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

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