It was 100 percent music. There was no ego involved, no attitudes, no black and white, it was pure music.

Quote by Lee Konitz

Topics: Lee Konitz Quotes

A first love always occupies a special place.

A first love always occupies a special place.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

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...

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...

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...

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

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...

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...

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 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...

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 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 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....

It's very demanding to make up your own music.

It's very demanding to make up your own music.

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

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

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.

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 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...

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...

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...