When I first started playing music in 1955, there was just a small body of people that knew it. It was a very esoteric type of thing.

Quote by Steve Lacy

Topics: Steve Lacy Quotes

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...

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 heard Sidney Bechet play a Duke Ellington piece and fell in love with the...

I heard Sidney Bechet play a Duke Ellington piece and fell in love with the...

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.

Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.

Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.

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...

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.

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...

If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging...

If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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

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

I was spoiled by Monk's music because it was so good, so complete.

I was spoiled by Monk's music because it was so good, so complete.

I wanted to be a pianist but it just wasn't my thing. I guess I...

I wanted to be a pianist but it just wasn't my thing. I guess I...

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...

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

The potential for the saxophone is unlimited.

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...