When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an awful lot of imitation going on now.

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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.

You can work on the saxophone alone, but ultimately you must perform with others.

You can work on the saxophone alone, but ultimately you must perform with others.

There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people...

There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people...

If you have music you want to play that no one asks you to play,...

If you have music you want to play that no one asks you to play,...

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...

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...

When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn....

When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn....

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.

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

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

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...

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

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...

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.

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.

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....