Dave Brubeck

“It's like a whole orchestra, the piano for me.”

“Jazz is about the only form of art existing today in which there is freedom of the individual without the loss of group contact.”

“There's a way of playing safe, there's a way of using tricks and there's the way I like to play which is dangerously where you're going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven't created before.”

“One of the reasons I believe in jazz is that the oneness of man can come through the rhythm of your heart. It’s the same anyplace in the world, that heartbeat.”

“What I'm interested in is the exploration of music, not its preservation.”

“The one thing I did was learn to play with a big sound.”

“The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.”

“Jazz is the voice of freedom.”

“Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience.”

“I'm always hoping for the nights that are magical. I can tell when it's happening because it's effortless.”

“Don't be a perfectionist... It's a big waste of time.”

“Music should be an integral part of a child's education.”

“The whole reason for jazz is to be able to play what you feel.”