I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. When we played pop tunes, and naturally we had to, I wanted those pops to kick! Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.
Count BasieRead
I'm saying: to be continued, until we meet again. Meanwhile, keep on listening and tapping your feet.
Interpretation
The quote encourages an ongoing engagement with life and music, implying that every moment is part of a larger journey.
Count Basie's quote expresses the idea of continuity and the anticipation of reunions in life and art. It highlights the importance of living in the moment while also looking forward to future experiences, all while enjoying the beauty of music along the way.
In practice
This quote can be shared at a memorial service to celebrate the beauty of life.
I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. When we played pop tunes, and naturally we had to, I wanted those pops to kick! Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.
All I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel ... and that's what I've been doing all my life.
If you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night!
I'll always remember when I first heard Lester [Young]. I'd never heard anyone like him before. He was a stylist with a different sound. A sound I'd never heard before or since. To be honest with you, I didn't much like it at first.
I never thought innovation as such was very important. Not when you have to think about it... If you're going to come up with a new direction or a really new way to do something, you'll do it by just playing your stuff and letting it ride. The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.
Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues.
If you play more than two chords, you're showing off.
Rock and roll isn't a career or hobby - it's a life force ... it's just something I have to do.
Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin. Now, they are so subtle, they can milk you with two notes. They can make you feel like they told you the whole universe. But I don't know that yet. All I got now is strength. Maybe if I keep singing, maybe I'll get it.
I see a young man playing 'Plaisir d'Amour' on guitar. I knew I didn't want to go to college; I was already playing a ukulele, and after I saw that, I was hooked. All I wanted to do was play guitar and sing.
Just blow in it and sound bad for about a year and then make it sound a little bit better, and you get a little band together, and then you get a few jobs. You take four guys that sound half bad, but if they're 25 percent each, they can give 100 percent, you know?
It may be that when the angels go about their task praising God, they play only Bach. I am sure, however, that when they are together en famille they play Mozart.
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