Herbie Quotes & Sayings

The Internet opens up a whole new range of possibilities in a wide range of areas. — Herbie Hancock

My first Grammy wasn't even in a jazz category, but of course I was really excited. 'Rockit' was the beginning of kind of a new era for the whole hip-hop movement. — Herbie Hancock

The cool thing is that jazz is really a wonderful example of the great characteristics of Buddhism and great characteristics of the human spirit. Because in jazz we share, we listen to each other, we respect each other, we are creating in the moment. At our best, we're non-judgmental. — Herbie Hancock

But when I first got cancer, after the initial shock and the fear and paranoia and crying and all that goes with cancer - that word means to most people ultimate death - I decided to see what I could do to take that negative and use it in a positive way. — Herbie Mann

Without wisdom, the future has no meaning, no valuable purpose. — Herbie Hancock

There's so much spontaneity involved, what do you practice? How do you practice teamwork? How do you practice sharing? How do you practice daring? How do you practice being nonjudgmental? — Herbie Hancock

Being stubborn has helped, being selfish is not a bad thing. — Herbie Mann

I am not fundamentally a musician, I am fundamentally a human being. — Herbie Hancock

I don't think there are any pure Africans of the African Americans, but the African part of our history was pretty much taken away from us during slavery, so the 60s gave us a chance, because of the civil rights movement, to kind of re-examine and make some sort of formal connection to our African-ness. — Herbie Hancock

So I didn't actually change my name the way some people did. — Herbie Hancock

I learned the importance of being nonjudgmental, taking what happens and trying to make it work.That's something you should apply to life. — Herbie Hancock

I'm not special, no more special than anybody else. — Herbie Hancock

I love nineties stuff like Alice in Chains and Nine Inch Nails. It'd be my dream to have a Radiohead-themed episode of 'Glee.' I also love jazz greats like Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Herbie Hancock. — Mark Salling

Brimstone: ' ... I shall smite thee with my fightful blasting wand so that thy teeth shall drop out, thy skin shall wrinkle, thou shalt have boils on thy bottom and be subject to night sweats, ringing in the ears, falling sickness, flaking dandruff, arthritis, lumbago, uncontrollable dribbling, deafness, runny nose, and ingrowing toenails. Amen. — Herbie Brennan

I have lifelong friends. My oldest friend, Herbie, has been a friend since I was 9. I've had bonds for over 50 years with people. — Larry King

I think I was supposed to play jazz. — Herbie Hancock

You don't have to live the blues to play the blues. — Herbie Mann

It pulled me like a magnet, jazz did, because it was a way that I could express myself. — Herbie Hancock

Jazz to me is the spirit of freedom. I mean real freedom. Freedom to explore. Freedom to express. Freedom to pour out your guts. — Herbie Hancock

Music happens to be an art form that transcends language — Herbie Hancock

My hope is that the music will serve as a metaphor for the actions taken by the inhabitants of this wonderful planet as a call for world harmony on all levels. — Herbie Hancock

Think about it: Look at the strides of awareness and treatment and tests that women have had with breast cancer, that the gay community has had with AIDS, because they're active and they talk about it. — Herbie Mann

Life is not about finding our limitations, it's about finding our infinity. — Herbie Hancock

The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness. — Herbie Hancock

I have to care and I have to be honest and have the courage to be vulnerable. If that happens, then that's the best I can do. To just be a puppet for the audience is not very courageous. Just to do whatever they say they want - because a lot of times people will hear something new that they hadn't heard before and get turned on by a new experience and will want to hear more of that. — Herbie Hancock

Jazz translates the moment into a sense of inspiration for not only the musicians but for the listeners. — Herbie Hancock

The portals are certainly closed, so the demons aren't giving any trouble. Lots of talk about hands of friendship, doves of peace, all that sort of crap ... — Herbie Brennan

I think there's a great beauty to having problems. That's one of the ways we learn — Herbie Hancock

Hip-hop is all over the planet. — Herbie Hancock

Since time is a continuum, the moment is always different, so the music is always different. — Herbie Hancock

See, there were certain rules I'd always used, and people like Trane, they would break those rules. — Herbie Hancock

Oscar Peterson is the greatest living influence on jazz pianists today. — Herbie Hancock

Wisdom is the key to understanding the age, creating the time. — Herbie Hancock

In World War II, jazz absolutely was the music of freedom, and then in the Cold War, behind the Iron Curtain, same thing. It was all underground, but they needed the food of freedom that jazz offered. — Herbie Hancock

In the world of Art there are no wrong choices. — Herbie Hancock

Jazz has been the voice of freedom for so many countries over the past half century, — Herbie Hancock

Globalization means we have to re-examine some of our ideas, and look at ideas from other countries, from other cultures, and open ourselves to them. And that's not comfortable for the average person. — Herbie Hancock

It's part of my nature. I get excited when trying out new stuff, whether it be an idea or equipment. It stimulates my juices. — Herbie Hancock

Creativity shouldn't be following radio; it should be the other way around. — Herbie Hancock

The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away from that, the solidity that you need in order to be able to stand up for what you believe in and deliver what's really inside, it's just not going to be there. — Herbie Hancock

I don't go around, the way many musicians do, with earbuds in my ear listening to my iPod all day and just sticking my head in the music all the time. — Herbie Hancock

It's funny that because a lot of old jazz is being sampled now, you are finding a lot of young kids, a lot of scenesters and clubgoers, who are getting praise, laurels and dates with women because they listen to people like Herbie Hancock. In my day, listening to Herbie Hancock would have gotten you beaten up. — Brett Milano

The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way. — Herbie Hancock

He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.'
Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Have you any idea of the implications?'
'He was mistreating it!' Pyrgus protested.
'Of course he was mistreating it. This is Black Hairstreak we're talking about. He mistreats his own mother. I don't suppose you stole her as well? — Herbie Brennan

Life is not about finding your limitations; it's about finding your infinity. — Herbie Hancock

The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique. — Herbie Hancock

I got a chance to work with Miles Davis, and that changed everything for me, 'cause Miles really encouraged all his musicians to reach beyond what they know, go into unknown territory and explore. It's made a difference to me and the decisions that I've made over the years about how to approach a project in this music. — Herbie Hancock

Why do you have to retire at 65? Why can't you start at 70? You know, like wine. Why can't music be that way? My new band, we're playing stuff that's never been done before. — Herbie Mann

So in other words, we were constantly challenged to grow, and thats what a master does. — Herbie Hancock

One thing that attracted me to Buddhism was the support for this larger vision of values. — Herbie Hancock

A great teacher is one who realizes that he himself is also a student and whose goal is not dictate the answers, but to stimulate his students' creativity enough so that they go out and find the answers themselves. — Herbie Hancock

I don't see how we can have both the freedoms we had before and the safety net that we all need considering the way the world is today. And that's just because human beings can't trust each other. We've given in over and over to some of the darkest elements that exist in life itself. — Herbie Hancock

I had sat in one day in Central Park with Bonnie and Delaney, and Duane was playing with them, so I asked if he wanted to work on an album. You never had to say to him how to play the guitar. — Herbie Mann

I started off with classical music, and I got into jazz when I was about 14 years old. And I've been playing jazz ever since. — Herbie Hancock

Back in the day for me was a great time in my life - I was in my 20s. Most people refer to their experiences in their twenties as being a highlight in their life. It's a period of time where you often develop your own way, your own sound, your own identity, and that happened with me, when I was with a great teacher - Miles Davis. — Herbie Hancock

Jazz has borrowed from other genres of music and also has lent itself to other genres of music. — Herbie Hancock

Getting the Oscar had the biggest impression on me. — Herbie Hancock

I'm very conscious of the idea of trying to each time present something that I haven't presented before. It's a challenge to me to find something new, to find something innovative, but it's also very exciting. — Herbie Hancock

Each human being exists because there's something they have to offer for the evolution of the universe that only they can fulfill. — Herbie Hancock

One of the advantages of not having a record contract is that you can make your own mistakes, you don't need somebody else to organize them for you. — Herbie Mann

Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician when I'm playing music - or writing music, or talking about music. I don't do that 24 hours a day. I'm also a father, a son, a husband, a citizen - I mean, when I go to vote, I'm not thinking of myself as 'a musician.' — Herbie Hancock

If you want to play somebody's music, you'd better go into his house. — Herbie Mann

My ego is controlled enough that I don't have to be the focus. — Herbie Mann

The first thing I ever heard about synthesizers, they were being used in rock. — Herbie Hancock

If you're not judging what happens, then you're trusting what others are doing, what you're playing, and trusting what you're playing.And it can lead you to other ideas, to something maybe you hadn't expressed before. — Herbie Hancock

My father was really good with math. It's a funny thing, I don't remember my father or my mother being so mechanical-minded. My father always wanted to be a doctor, but he came from a really poor family in Georgia, and there was no way he was going to be a doctor. — Herbie Hancock

As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising on the tenor sax, there would not have been the evolution of the craft by John Coltrane. — Herbie Mann

It might be something as simple as saying the right word to the right person at the right time-and that could change the course of history. You never really know. But the whole thing is to work at the process of being in sync with the universe, so that everything will align at the proper time so that you can deliver that which is your life mission. And that's why we're here as individuals. And then there's our contribution to the collective. It makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? — Herbie Hancock

It is people's hearts that move the age. — Herbie Hancock

World peace is no longer some pie-in-the-sky thing, because no single person or country is going to solve it on their own. — Herbie Hancock

But, the truth is that everyone is somebody already. — Herbie Hancock

It's easy to get sidetracked with technology, and that is the danger, but ultimately you have to see what works with the music and what doesn't. In a lot of cases, less is more. In most cases, less is more. — Herbie Hancock

His eyes were closing again, all of their own accord, so that he lay in red, pain-filled darkness. It occured to him that he was dying and he didn't care.
'He's alive!' Blue said again 'He's breathing!'
'I can't see him breathing. — Herbie Brennan

Inspiration is constantly in the air. It's up to us to develop the sensitivity to pick up on it. — Herbie Hancock

At a certain point, I became a kind of musician that has tunnel vision about jazz. I only listened to jazz and classical music. — Herbie Hancock

If your doctor has warned you to avoid excitement, do not turn to exploring your past lives as a soothing and sedentary occupation ... — Herbie Brennan

We are eternally linked not just to each other but our environment. — Herbie Hancock

Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept. He and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You know, that's where it really came from. Almost all of the harmony that I play can be traced to one of those four people and whoever their influences were. — Herbie Hancock

I never dreamed I would be a Goodwill Ambassador, and for UNESCO. Perfect organization. It is apolitical and it's about education, science and culture. I mean that is what I live. That is what UNESCO is really about; it's all about bringing human beings together with one common goal, which is to move human kind forward. — Herbie Hancock

People are afraid to spend money now because they dont know how long theyre going to be working. — Herbie Hancock

Music is the tool to express life - and all that makes a difference. — Herbie Hancock

I just express myself in any way I feel is appropriate at the moment. — Herbie Hancock

In the past, there's always been one leader that has led the pack to development of the music. — Herbie Hancock

Speaking of lunacy,' remarked Pyrgus later, 'are you in love with my sister?'
Oh, yes!' Henry said at once. — Herbie Brennan

I like the idea of an eclectic approach, incorporating jazz with other forms and other genres of music. — Herbie Hancock

You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life. — Herbie Hancock

I wonder where she came from,
I wonder where she's gotta go.
Who's to say she's single
and who's to say she's on her own ...
Girls like that don't sleep alone — Herbie Hancock

Forget about trying to compete with someone else. Create your own pathway. Create your own new vision. — Herbie Hancock

There is no such thing as art," he said. "There is only this painting, this piece of music, that sculpture. And it either resonates with you or it doesn't." He paused for a moment and then added, "There is no such thing as art, there are only works."
... In those two moments, Antonioni taught me something profound. — Herbie Hancock

I'm always interested in looking forward toward the future. Carving out new ways of looking at things. — Herbie Hancock

One of the most important functions of jazz has been to encourage a hope for freedom, for people living in situations of intolerance or struggle. — Herbie Hancock

We need to move into a culture of peace. What I hope to promote is the idea that we all need each other and that the greatest happiness in life is not how much we have but how much we give. That's a wealth that's priceless. You can't buy compassion. — Herbie Hancock

I used to teach at an abused children's home. I told the kids, You all have a manure pile of memories. Nothing you can do about that. Now you can drown in the stink or turn it into compost and grow a garden. I wouldn't't be as good a teacher to you if I didn't know what you're going through. That way, I make my memories do good instead of letting them eat me. I'm like Herbie from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I pulled my Bumble's teeth. He's still big and scary but he can't bite me anymore. — Rebecca O'Donnell

If you're in jazz and more than ten people like you, you're labeled commercial. — Herbie Mann

You can practice to learn a technique, but I'm more interested in conceiving of something in the moment. — Herbie Hancock

I look for what's of value and extract that. I don't look to criticize. — Herbie Hancock

It's part of life to have obstacles. It's about overcoming obstacles; that's the key to happiness. — Herbie Hancock

Fogarty rolled the cylinder in his fingers.' Know what's interesting? I had a look at this thing when they took it out. The insides are burned out.'
Are they?' Blue asked mildly.
It takes a lot to burn out one of those implants - almost impossible, in fact. You must love him very much,' Fogarty said quietly.
Yes,' Blue said. 'Yes, I do. — Herbie Brennan

Like no matter what happens, this would be the ultimate, they can make something positive happen. — Herbie Hancock

Being a musician is what I do, but it's not what I am. — Herbie Hancock