Ellington was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. His melodies and harmonies were unlike anything that had been heard before, and his compositions are still considered some of the best in the genre. In this quotes compilation, we will take a look at Ellington’s life and music, and try to understand why he has such an enduring legacy.
We are glad to present you the most interesting Jazz, Music, Time quotes from Duke Ellington, and much more.
Born:
April 29, 1899
Died:
May 24, 1974
Genres:
Jazz, Swing
Occupation:
Bandleader, Musician, Composer
Jazz is a good barometer of freedom. — Duke Ellington
Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct. — Duke Ellington
By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with. — Duke Ellington
Somehow I suspect that if Shakespeare were alive today, he might be a jazz fan himself. — Duke Ellington
Jazz is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country. — Duke Ellington
If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original. — Duke Ellington
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. — Duke Ellington
Love is supreme and unconditional. Like is nice, but limited. — Duke Ellington
Love is indescribable and unconditional. I could tell you a thousand things that it is not, but not one that it is. Either you have it or you haven’t; there’s no proof of it. — Duke Ellington
Selfishness can be a virtue. Selfishness is essential to survival, and without survival we cannot protect those whom we love more than ourselves. — Duke Ellington
What does music mean to you? What would you do without music? — Duke Ellington
New music? Hell, there’s been no new music since Stravinsky. — Duke Ellington
There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind. — Duke Ellington
You have to stop listening in categories. The music is either good or it’s bad. — Duke Ellington
Music is the tonal reflection of beauty. — Duke Ellington
There is hardly any money interest in art, and music will be there when money is gone. — Duke Ellington
The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a musician is he. — Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington grew up in Washington, D. C., in a secure middle-class family that encouraged his interests in the fine arts.
He began studying piano at age seven, studied art during his high-school years, and was awarded a scholarship to the Pratt Institute.
Source
Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It’s not an occupation or profession, it’s a compulsion. — Duke Ellington
You can’t write music right unless you know how the man that’ll play it plays poker. — Duke Ellington
Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one. — Duke Ellington
I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline! — Duke Ellington
There are two kinds of worries–those you can do something about and those you can’t. Don’t spend any time on the latter. — Duke Ellington
I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right. — Duke Ellington
Yet, every time God’s children have thrown away fear in pursuit of honesty–trying to communicate themselves, understood or not, miracles have happened. — Duke Ellington
Without a deadline, baby, I wouldn’t do nothing. — Duke Ellington
There are 2 rules in life: Number 1–Never quit Number2–Never forget rule number 1. — Duke Ellington
A problem is A chAnce for you to do your best. — Duke Ellington
A musical profit outweighs a financial loss. — Duke Ellington
I don’t believe in categories of any kind, and when you speak of problems between blacks and whites in the U.S.A. you are referring to categories again. — Duke Ellington
Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else. — Duke Ellington
Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste. — Duke Ellington
