I just completed a tour in Europe. I played every night. This requires traveling some days for six hours in a van or a train or a car. After six weeks of that, I checked into the hotel and just fell apart. Lee Konitz Read Quote
It was 100 percent music. There was no ego involved, no attitudes, no black and white, it was pure music. Lee Konitz Read Quote
In some ways Lester Young is the most complex rhythmically of any musician. He does some things which are just phenomenal. Lee Konitz Read Quote
I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don’t want to know that. I just want to know that there’s a combination of notes that makes a sound. Lee Konitz Read Quote
Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That’s why I wanted the clarinet. Lee Konitz Read Quote
Many people do think it’s naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I’m not saying one way is better than another. Lee Konitz Read Quote
I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn’t satisfying enough for me. I should have been a rhythm section player, actually. Lee Konitz Read Quote
Labels don’t mean anything to me. I’m trying to play as passionately as I’m able to. If they want to call that cool, that’s fine. Just spell the name right, is the formula. Lee Konitz Read Quote
