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

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...

A first love always occupies a special place.

A first love always occupies a special place.

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

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

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...

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'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.

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...

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.

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...

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

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

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....

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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 wish that person outside would stop coughing.

I wish that person outside would stop coughing.

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...

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.

Sound is the first thing that we tune into.