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

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

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.

I've always been extremely lucky in playing with great people who knew much more than...

I've always been extremely lucky in playing with great people who knew much more than...

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.

To me, there is spirit in a reed. It's a living thing, a weed, really,...

To me, there is spirit in a reed. It's a living thing, a weed, really,...

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.

When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an...

When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an...

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

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,...

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.

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...

If you listen to Louis Armstrong from 1929, you will never hear anything better than...

If you listen to Louis Armstrong from 1929, you will never hear anything better than...

When I first started playing music in 1955, there was just a small body of...

When I first started playing music in 1955, there was just a small body of...

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

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

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...

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

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

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.

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...

It's very important to go through periods where you sound just rotten and you know...

It's very important to go through periods where you sound just rotten and you know...

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.