Music is the tonal reflection of beauty. Duke Ellington More Quotes by Duke Ellington More Quotes From Duke Ellington I don't need time. What I need is a deadline! Duke Ellington jazzinspirationalneeds There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind ... the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it's successful; if it doesn't it has failed. Duke Ellington successfulsoundtwo Without a deadline, baby, I wouldn't do nothing. Duke Ellington deadlineinnovationbaby Gray skies are just clouds passing over. Duke Ellington adversityfailuremusic The artist must say it without saying it. Duke Ellington artist It's like an act of murder - you play with intent to commit something. Duke Ellington jazzmusicplay Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees. Duke Ellington kneeshas-beensi-can Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing. Duke Ellington playing-jazzmusicmissing-you I don't need time, I need a deadline. Duke Ellington time-of-needdeadlineneeds Jazz is a good barometer of freedom. Duke Ellington barometerjazz I'm sure critics have their purpose, and they're supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what he did. Duke Ellington musicdoneshould-have I like any and all of my associations with music: writing, playing, and listening. We write and play from our perspective, and the audience listens from its perspective. If and when we agree, I am lucky. Duke Ellington musicplaywriting Billy Strayhorn was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes Duke Ellington armsmineseye The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a musician is he. Duke Ellington musicianproblemmade Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine". Duke Ellington whitewishhouse New York is a place where the rich walk, the poor drive Cadillacs, and beggars die of malnutrition with thousands of dollars hidden in their mattresses. Duke Ellington cadillacsdollarsnew-york If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original. Duke Ellington epitomejazzmusic I fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King's son. Duke Ellington kingsnightson There is no art when one does something without intention. Duke Ellington musicdoeart On becoming more acquainted with the word of the Bible, I began to understand so much more of what I had been taught, and of what I had learned about life and about the people in mine. Duke Ellington taughtbecomingpeople
