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Famous Duke Ellington Quotes
“Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.”
“Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself.”
“It's like an act of murder - you play with intent to commit something.”
“There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.”
“Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.”
“Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.”
“Gray skies are just clouds passing over.”
“The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen.”
“What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?”
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it.”
“Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.”
“I fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King's son.”
“Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young.”