Branford Marsalis

“The thing about classical music is that it's timeless.”

“Jazz is a music of great achievements, but not of final solutions.”

“Don't be the best in your town. Just try to be the best.”

“Technical perfection is insufficient. It's an illusion of greatness.”

“Learning how to play with a big band is very, very important. It teaches you how to blend, and it teaches you how to link up with other people.”

“The only real knowledge is who you are.”

“You can't be a jazz musician and not be a blues musician.”

“The object of my talent is to create a space where you can be quiet, and you can listen, and you can feel.”

“Hip-hop is a direct descendant of the blues. It's all about storytelling.”

“I don't think you can be a great musician if you're not a great listener.”

“You have to be a student for life.”

“The music dictates to you what it is. You don't dictate to it.”

“The idea of being a jazz musician is to be an individual, and to be unique.”

“Music shouldn't be a competition. It should be a celebration.”

“What is jazz? It's a style of playing, it's not a specific tune.”