Ahmad Jamal

“I'm not a jazz artist, I'm an American classical artist.”

“There is no such thing as 'old' music.”

“Space is the most important ingredient in my music.”

“Music is my life, and my life is music.”

“I am a student of the music. I'm not a master.”

“The piano is a percussion instrument. You've got to be able to play it with a certain amount of discipline and a certain amount of bounce.”

“I have always believed in the importance of dynamics, the importance of silence, the importance of space.”

“You have to be a student for life.”

“I'm still discovering things in music.”

“My thing is discipline, discipline, discipline.”

“The audience is part of the performance.”

“Simplicity is the final achievement.”

“I try to interpret the composer's intention.”

“The only thing that's going to save the world is the arts.”

“'Poinciana' is one of the most difficult pieces I play.”