Our basic audience begins with creaking elderly types of twenty-three and above.

- Paul Desmond

It was never supposed to be a hit. It was supposed to be a Joe Morello drum solo.

- Paul Desmond

I'm glad [Ornette Coleman] is such an individualist. I like the firmness of thought and purpose that goes into what he's doing, even though I don't …

- Paul Desmond

Milton, of all people, gave the most perfect definition of the state of mind required to play jazz: ' with wanton heed and giddy cunning.' That's how…

- Paul Desmond

Not for me. If I want to tune everybody out, I just take off my glasses and enjoy the haze.

- Paul Desmond

I think I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to sound like a dry martini.

- Paul Desmond

We used to get on planes, and they'd ask who we were, and we'd say, 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet', and they'd say, 'Who?' In later years they'd say, 'Oh…

- Paul Desmond

I would like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.

- Paul Desmond

Writing is like jazz. It can be learned, but it can't be taught.

- Paul Desmond