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

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

People don't want to suffer. They want to sound good immediately, and this is one...

People don't want to suffer. They want to sound good immediately, and this is one...

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...

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....

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...

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

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,...

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

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

They call me before they go into production, when they have a prototype, and they...

They call me before they go into production, when they have a prototype, and they...

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

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 saxophone is a very interesting machine, but I'm more interested in music.

The saxophone is a very interesting machine, but I'm more interested in music.

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.

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...

Whoever has an original thing to say, it is sort of a threat to the...

Whoever has an original thing to say, it is sort of a threat to the...

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

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

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

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 heard Monk in person in 1955, he was playing with a quartet in...

When I heard Monk in person in 1955, he was playing with a quartet in...

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

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

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.