Blakey Quotes & Sayings

That.s what Jazz music is all about.We started the Messengers because somebody had to mind the store for jazz.No America
no Jazz. It is the only culture that America has brought forth. — Art Blakey

Music is supposed to wash away the dust of everyday life. — Art Blakey

If you feel like tapping your feet, tap your feet. — Art Blakey

The people know more about [Jazz] in other countries than in America. America is the last country to know about anything, because we're too fat, we have too much of everything, you understand? And we do not listen. — Art Blakey

Don't make the mistakes I made of not taking care of myself. Please, keeps your chops cool and don't overblow. If you are going to play hard, be sure to warm up. I'd get carried away trying to stay right with the momentum [of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers]. I used to try and play like Coltrane and solo for 30 or 40 choruses. It all caught up with me. — Freddie Hubbard

We all kind of grew up together with Art Blakey because we all were young and he gave us a chance to write. We had to write something that was good and to sit up with a great guy like Art Blakey and watch him. — Freddie Hubbard

All you have to do is be able to feel. — Art Blakey

Getting the right balance is the primary concern. — Marion Blakey

There's nothing wrong with it. It's only a word. What's in a name? Nothing! Cats say, "Call me Muhammed so-and-so. " — Art Blakey

My first love in music was jazz, but I like it all," "I reacted emotionally to Art Blakey and, of course, to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery. I was all of 16 when I had my first guitar lesson with Joe. But I never focused on being a bebop player. I loved the harmony, rhythm and phrasing, but I wanted to apply them to my own concept and sound. — Larry Carlton

Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. — Art Blakey

It takes an intelligent ear to listen to Jazz. — Art Blakey

You can't leave a footprint that lasts if you're always walking on tiptoe. — Marion Blakey

People like Art Blakey and Buddy Rich, you look at them playing music, and it's just like looking at a heavy metal drummer. I mean, they're playing with the same amount of ferocity. It's not to say all jazz is like that. — Damien Chazelle

They say that Jazz is back, and I don't think it's gone anywhere. But they say it's back. — Art Blakey

Jazz is known all over the world as an American musical art form and that's it. No America, no jazz. I've seen people try to connect it to other countries, for instance to Africa, but it doesn't have a damn thing to do with Africa. — Art Blakey

Jazz, I mean, music will always move, because it can't become stagnant. Because if it becomes stagnant, it's like a river, it'll kill us all. It has to keep moving, music will always flow. — Art Blakey

A name doesn't make the music. It's just called that to differentiate it from other types of music. — Art Blakey

We're here to have a ball. — Art Blakey

You can't seperate modern jazz from rock or from rhythm and blues - you can't seperate it. Because that's where it all started, and that's where it all come from - that's where I learned to keep rhythm - in church. — Art Blakey

Who knows ... we'll be playing Jazz and having a good time! — Art Blakey

What ever truth drops on it eventually grinds to a powder. — Art Blakey

So go on and play, and if you make a mistake, make it loud so you won't make it next time. — Art Blakey