Labels don't mean anything to me. I'm trying to play as passionately as I'm able to. If they want to call that cool, that's fine. Just spell the name right, is the formula.

Quote by Lee Konitz

Topics: Lee Konitz Quotes

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 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.

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player....

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player....

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

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

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

A first love always occupies a special place.

A first love always occupies a special place.

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....

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...

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...

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 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...

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.