Dave’s Reviews > Reading Jazz > Status Update

"Each thing you hear determines the direction that you go. You just follow the music, and if you follow the music you can go anywhere."

"Art seems to come best from getting oneself into a state of great mental alertness compounded of sheer high momentum (no thoughts of falling) and subconscious ability to keep an amazing number of elements suspended ready at the milli-second to be placed in time."

"Time is a substance if you hear you can get on and ride."

"Both of them [Dylan Thomas and Charlie Parker] were overcome by the horror of the world in which they found themselves, because at last they could no longer overcome that world with the weapon of a purely lyrical art." Kenneth Rexroth

"As I understand it, it is not music at all. It is merely an irritation of the nerves of hearing, a sensual teasing of the strings of physical passion. Its fault lies not in syncopation... but 'jazz' is an unmitigated cacophony, a combination of disagreeable sounds in complicated discords, a willful ugliness and a deliberate vulgarity." Dr. Henry Van Dyke, letter to Anne Shaw Faulkner

"If we are successful in breaking down only a small portion of the antagonism toward jazz, which is so prevalent among lovers of opera, oratorio and symphony, we will feel amply repaid for our efforts, and so will our associates. If, in addition, we encourage creative musical talent in but one person, we shall be happy." Paul Whiteman, press release for 1924 concert

"They got Buddy [Bolden] but they never got us. A lot of people listened to us us and were dubious and we knew it. But they never ~proved~ we were nuts." Hoagy Carmichael, "The Stardust Road"

"Finally, there are those who are waiting. Who aren't in a hurry to crown or classify. Who mock the permitted values, rejoice at the unexpected element that overturns their system ... They cheerfully read articles about their favorite sport because it amuses them to hear somebody talk — even in a completely idiotic way (or especially because of that) — about something they care for."