J. J. Johnson

“Music is a spiritual thing. You don't play with music. If you play with music, you will die young. You see, because when the Higher Power give you a gift, you are supposed to take care of it and use it in the right way.”

“I try to make my solos tell a story.”

“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.”

“Jazz is restless. It won't stay put and it never will.”

“When you are through changing, you are through.”

“I'm more of a builder than a discoverer. I'm more interested in putting things together than in taking them apart.”

“The trombone is a very versatile instrument; it can be whatever you want it to be.”