I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn't satisfying enough for me. I should have been a rhythm section player, actually.

Quote by Lee Konitz

Topics: Lee Konitz Quotes

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 hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

Labels don't mean anything to me. I'm trying to play as passionately as I'm able...

Labels don't mean anything to me. I'm trying to play as passionately as I'm able...

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...

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 wish that person outside would stop coughing.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

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...

Most jazz players work out their solos, at least to the extent that they have...

Most jazz players work out their solos, at least to the extent that they have...

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...

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 first love always occupies a special place.

A first love always occupies a special place.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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...

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...