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

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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.

It's very important to go through periods where you sound just rotten and you know...

It's very important to go through periods where you sound just rotten and you know...

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.

Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.

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

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

We played for peanuts. But we did what we wanted to do, we heard what...

We played for peanuts. But we did what we wanted to do, we heard what...

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

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

It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth...

It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth...

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.

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

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

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,...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...