Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself. Duke Ellington More Quotes by Duke Ellington More Quotes From Duke Ellington Put it this way: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom... In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country. Duke Ellington musicexpressioncountry There are 2 rules in life: Duke Ellington quittingnever-quitnumbers Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It's not an occupation or profession, it's a compulsion. Duke Ellington occupationjazzmusic There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind. Duke Ellington jazzmusictwo A problem is a chance for you to do your best. Duke Ellington positiveinspirationallife If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band! Duke Ellington mediocredrummerband The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen. Duke Ellington musicimportantlooks Everyone prays in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand. Duke Ellington languageprayerdoe How can anyone expect to be understood unless he presents his thoughts with complete honesty? This situation is unfair because it asks too much of the world. In effect, we say, ' I don't dare show you what I am because I don't trust you for a minute but please love me anyway because I so need you to. And, of course, if you don't love me anyway, you're a dirty dog, just as I suspected, so I was right in the first place.' Yet, every time God's children have thrown away fear in pursuit of honesty-trying to communicate themselves, understood or not, miracles have happened. Duke Ellington honestydogchildren You have to stop listening in categories. The music is either good or it's bad. Duke Ellington categoriesmusic-islistening The common root, of course, comes out of Africa. That's the pulse.The African pulse. It's all the way back from . . . the old slave chants and up through the blues, the jazz, and up through rock. And it's all got the African pulse. Duke Ellington pulserocksroots A goal is a dream with a finish line. Duke Ellington musicdreaminspirational Problems are chances for us to do our best. Duke Ellington chanceproblem Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it. Duke Ellington jazzwantart Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited. Duke Ellington unconditional-acceptancenicelove Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else. Duke Ellington numberstwo Simplicity is a most complex form Duke Ellington complexessimplicityform I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right. Duke Ellington musicgirlfunny There are two kinds of worries - those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter. Duke Ellington worryinspirationaltwo I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues. Duke Ellington musicopportunityart
