I don't do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn't care less. If it sells one, it sells one.

Montreal was a very active jazz center until club owners started putting in strippers instead of music. Before long, there was nothing to hear.

If the average jazz artist uses his head and at the outset of his career realizes he won't play as well at fifty as he does at twenty-five, he won't be in a line-up outside the Salvation Army when he's fifty.

It's the group sound that's important, even when you're playing a solo. You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That's jazz.

Some people try to get very philosophical and cerebral about what they're trying to say with jazz. You don't need any prologues, you just play. If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

First of all, I swore it was two people playing. When I finally admitted to myself that was one man, I gave up the piano for a month. I figured it was hopeless to practice.

He's not a performer, he's not a composer, he's not even a musician, but Norman Granz is Mr. Jazz.