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Miles Davis

Miles Davis Quotes

Musician

Miles Davis was an influential jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of jazz, with his work spanning a wide range of styles and influencing countless musicians. His career spanned over five decades, and he was known for his innovative approach to music and his collaborations with some of the greatest musicians of his time.

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All Jazz Play Ifs Music Knows I Can Men Sound Mean People Jazz Music Musician Thinking Want Way White Trying Guy Tempo Music Is

Famous Miles Davis Quotes

“Jazz musicians are so comfortable. The reason they can't do what we do is because they're so comfortable doin' what they do.”

Reason Comfortable Musician Jazz Jazz Music Jazz Musician

Author:Miles Davis

“[Jazz musicians] feel comfortable with their clichés, you know.”

Knows Feels Comfortable Musician Jazz Jazz Music Jazz Musician

Author:Miles Davis

“You can't play anything on a horn that Louis Armstrong hasn't played”

Play Music Horns Jazz Music Armstrong Playing Jazz

Author:Miles Davis

“I never thought that the music called "jazz" was ever meant to reach just a small group of people, or become a museum thing locked under glass like all the other dead things that were once considered artistic.”

People Music Groups Jazz Glasses Artistic Museums Locked Jazz Music Small Groups

Book:Miles

Source: Miles

“My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.”

I Can Play Suffering Father Music Rich Jazz Looking Good Jazz Music Momma My Momma

Author:Miles Davis

“...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on the new thing so they don't look unhip. White people are especially like that, particularly when a black person is doing something they don't understand...That's what I thought was happening when Ornette hit town.”

People Ifs Want Looks Persons Enough Black White Music Happenings Towns Jazz Hips New Things Jazz Music Hype Black Person

Book:Miles

Source: Miles

“I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each other, were true because Bach had also composed that way.”

Way Said Three Realizing Music Jazz Jazz Music Being Played Fours

Book:Miles

Source: Miles

“Trane was the perfect saxophonist for Monk's music because of the space that Monk always used. Trane could fill up all that space with all them chords and sounds he was playing then.”

Used Sound Space Perfect Music Music Is Jazz Monk Chords Jazz Music

Book:Miles

Source: Miles

“In Europe, they like everything you do. The mistakes and everything. That's a little bit too much.”

Littles Bits Mistake Music Too Much Little Bit Europe Jazz Jazz Music Jazz Musician

Author:Miles Davis

“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.”

Long Self Sometimes Play Able Music Long Time Jazz Guitar Musical Jazz Music Like Yourself Playing Jazz

Author:Miles Davis

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.”

Play Music Jazz African American Rock N Roll Jazz Music Playing Jazz Jazz And Life

Author:Miles Davis

“Do not fear mistakes. There are none.”

“The thing to judge in any jazz artist is, does the man project and does he have ideas.”

Men Doe Ideas Artist Music Judging Projects Jazz Jazz Music

Author:Miles Davis

About the Author

Born: May 26, 1926
Died: September 28, 1991
Known for: Musician
Quotes: 178

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Books & Sources

MilesRelated source material

Miles, the autobiographyRelated source material

Miles: The AutobiographyRelated source material

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