I keep telling Ron Lorman and them in the control room, "It's my band! The reason I have a band is because I can't stand for somebody to tell me what to do." Miles Davis More Quotes by Miles Davis More Quotes From Miles Davis I mean, it makes me sick when I see a white man sitting there smiling at me being entertaining, man. When I know what he's gonna do after he gets through. You know, when you see that thing on their face - like: "Entertain me." You know what I mean? Even the black guy that's trying to be white - even he can have that crap on his face. Miles Davis white-man men mean Bebop didn't have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn't even have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging — but they weren't sweet. Miles Davis challenges sweet bird I never thought Jazz was meant to be a museum piece like other dead things once considered artistic. Miles Davis pieces music museums You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself Miles Davis practice sound long The thing to judge in any jazz artist is, does the man project and does he have ideas. Miles Davis music artist men If you have to ask, you'll never know. Miles Davis asks ifs knows I think every Negro over fifty should get a medal for putting up with all that crap. Miles Davis should fifty thinking You can tell whether a person plays well or not by the way he carries the instrument, whether it means something to him or not. Miles Davis play mean way A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it. Miles Davis legends music men If you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines if it's good or bad. Miles Davis notes next play There are no wrong notes in jazz: only notes in the wrong places. Miles Davis notes jazz The only reason to write a new song is because you're tired of the old ones. Miles Davis tired writing song Jazz is an Uncle Tom word. They should stop using that word for selling. I told George Wein the other day that he should stop using it. Miles Davis selling jazz uncles I'm not messing around with nobody's woman. If I want a woman I go get her - you know what I mean? Miles Davis women want mean Audiences - they like colour, you know. I can go out there wearing a red suit, man, and they'll say I'm out of sight ... I think they should be educated; you should always drop something on an audience ... When you get in front of an audience, you should try to give 'em something. After all, they're there looking at you like this. You can't go out and give 'em nothing. Miles Davis sight men thinking I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or a backbeat that's even - I can write something. Miles Davis drummer half writing That's the way women do. The frown. They want to give you the attitude to approach them back, by giving you a negative vibe. Miles Davis attitude giving negative Don't be afraid of mistakes - There are none. Miles Davis mistake If you don't know what to play, play nothing. Miles Davis knows play chess I don't care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing. Miles Davis purple swings music
