Home / Quotes / Quote by Ornette Coleman

Quote by Ornette Coleman

“After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I had to end up playing them myself. And that's how I ended up just being a saxophone player.”

Quote by Ornette Coleman

Author

Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman, born on March 9, 1930 and died on June 11, 2015, was an influential American jazz saxophonist and composer. Known for his revolutionary approach to jazz and contributions to the genre, Coleman is celebrated as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His musical career spanned over five decades, profoundly impacting the development of jazz music. more

You May Also Like

“Even when you write it, someone's got to play it. So if you can play it and bypass all the rest of the things, you're still doing as great as someone that has spent forty years trying to find out how to do that. I'm really pro-human beings, pro-expression of everything.”

Ifs Writing Trying Years Humans Stills Play Human Beings Expression Forty Bypass

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I asked my mother could I have an instrument. She said, 'Well if you go out and save your money.' So I went and got - I made me a shine box. I went out and started shining shoes, and I'd bring whatever I made.”

Ifs Wells Made Said Mother Instruments Shining Shoes Boxes

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I don't know what they're thinking about. Just because someone says, 'I like what you do' or something: They might like it today and tomorrow they might not. I've had that experience with record companies.”

Thinking Knows Might Today Company Records Tomorrow Record Companies Today And Tomorrow

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I mean, if you decided to go out today and get you an instrument and do whatever it is that you do, no one can tell you how you're going to do it but when you do it.”

Ifs Mean Today Decided Instruments

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.”

Thinking Light Sound Creative Elements Democratic Parts Of Life

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they would get fired, and I'd be left with the record company. And then - because they got fired - the record company wouldn't do anything for me.”

Left Company Records Executives Record Companies

Author:Ornette Coleman

“If you decide you want to be treated good, and you treat someone else good, or you want to learn something, it's information. It's getting the right, good information.”

Ifs Want Information Treats Treated Good Information

Author:Ornette Coleman

“It seems to me that in the western world, culture has something to do with appearance. A person that's out creating good stuff has got to appreciate someone when they take the time to have an appearance that goes with what they're doing.”

World Persons Seems Culture Stuff Creating Appreciate Western Appearance Western World

Author:Ornette Coleman

“Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always had a personal relationship with someone in the company.”

Has Beens Company Records Record Companies Personal Relationships Business Relationship

Author:Ornette Coleman

“I think a lot of the stuff I'm playing now is crap.”

Thinking Stuff Crap

Author:John Peel