I wanted to be a pianist but it just wasn't my thing. I guess I wanted to stand up rather than sit down.

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

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.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging...

If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging...

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 potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

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.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

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,...

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 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.