When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it's composition. If you don't understand what it's about, you're depriving yourself of being really able to communicate this poem.

Quote by Dexter Gordon

Topics: Dexter Gordon Quotes

Darlin... be-bop is the music of the future.

Darlin... be-bop is the music of the future.

A lot of times I go back to record and to make a tour, but...

A lot of times I go back to record and to make a tour, but...

The music scene is more competitive in the States.

The music scene is more competitive in the States.

In jazz, there is a lot of European influence harmonically.

In jazz, there is a lot of European influence harmonically.

Music is a reservoir... of sounds.

Music is a reservoir... of sounds.

It's certainly not just a spot opinion; it's something that obviously has been building up...

It's certainly not just a spot opinion; it's something that obviously has been building up...

If you can't play the blues... you might as well hang it up.

If you can't play the blues... you might as well hang it up.

What I'm doing, I prefer to call that jazz, because it is a beautiful word...

What I'm doing, I prefer to call that jazz, because it is a beautiful word...

In nuclear war all men are cremated equal.

In nuclear war all men are cremated equal.

To have a little recognition, that is very nice, you dig. It is good for...

To have a little recognition, that is very nice, you dig. It is good for...

If I were to call it black music, that would be untrue. I don't know...

If I were to call it black music, that would be untrue. I don't know...

Jazz to me is a living music. It's a music that since its beginning has...

Jazz to me is a living music. It's a music that since its beginning has...

Jazz radio is not very friendly to pop singers who decide to make a jazz...

Jazz radio is not very friendly to pop singers who decide to make a jazz...

Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny

Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny

The day of the great jazz improviser who doesn't know how to read music is...

The day of the great jazz improviser who doesn't know how to read music is...

It seems that jazz is more cerebral and more mathematical in a sense.

It seems that jazz is more cerebral and more mathematical in a sense.

Jazz is known all over the world as an American musical art form and that's...

Jazz is known all over the world as an American musical art form and that's...

Jazz is there and gone. It happens. You have to be present for it. That...

Jazz is there and gone. It happens. You have to be present for it. That...

The only element of jazz that I keep is improvisation.

The only element of jazz that I keep is improvisation.

The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician.

The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician.