I never thought innovation as such was very important. Not when you have to think about it... If you're going to come up with a new direction or a really new way to do something, you'll do it by just playing your stuff and letting it ride. The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.
Count BasieI just think swing is a matter of some good things put together that you can really pat your foot by. I can't define it beyond that.
Count BasieI was always willing to say, "Let's see what happens," when something came up that looked like it might help me get a little closer to where I wanted to be . . .
Count BasieAll I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel ... and that's what I've been doing all my life.
Count Basie