Art Blakey Quotes
Art Blakey gives plain-spoken, rhythmic commentary on music, change, and happiness.
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On jazz: '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.'
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On the eventual death of racism: 'What ever truth drops on it eventually grinds to a powder.'
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On a live performance: 'If you feel like tapping your feet, tap your feet. If you feel like clapping your hands, clap your hands. And if you feel like taking off your shoes, take off your shoes. We are here to have a ball. So we want you to leave your worldly troubles outside and come in here and swing.'
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They say that Jazz is back, and I don't think it's gone anywhere. But they say it's back.
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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. "
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Jazz washes away the dust of every day life.
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It takes an intelligent ear to listen to Jazz.
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Music washes away the dust of every day life.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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So go on and play, and if you make a mistake, make it loud so you won't make it next time.
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A name doesn't make the music. It's just called that to differentiate it from other types of music.
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We're here to have a ball.
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Who knows ... we'll be playing Jazz and having a good time!