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

When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an...

When I came up, it was all about originality and collective research. There is an...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

The soprano turned out to sound to me like the right hand on the piano.

The soprano turned out to sound to me like the right hand on the piano.

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.

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.

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,...

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

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

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.

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...

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,...

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

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

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

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

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...

I've performed solo for 20 years now, but I don't do much of it, because...

I've performed solo for 20 years now, but I don't do much of it, because...

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.