Dexter Gordon Quotes

#1. If you can't play the blues ... you might as well hang it up.

Dexter Gordon

#2. To have a little recognition, that is very nice, you dig. It is good for the ego, for the psyche.

Dexter Gordon

#3. It's certainly not just a spot opinion; it's something that obviously has been building up for years. It is also very good for publicity, and it is the kind of recognition that maybe will help financially, also.

Dexter Gordon

#4. What I'm doing, I prefer to call that jazz, because it is a beautiful word - I love it.

Dexter Gordon

#5. The music scene is more competitive in the States.

Dexter Gordon

#6. Bebop is the music of the future (as soon as they learn how to play it).

Dexter Gordon

#7. Jazz to me is a living music. It's a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, hopes, of the people.

Dexter Gordon

#8. Thelonius Monk was not exactly 'the guy next door'.

Dexter Gordon

#9. Jazz is a beautiful word. I love it.

Dexter Gordon

#10. In nuclear war all men are cremated equal.

Dexter Gordon

#11. Jazz to me is a living music.

Dexter Gordon

#12. In jazz, there is a lot of European influence harmonically.

Dexter Gordon

#13. I hope we left you with something to put under your pillows.

Dexter Gordon

#14. Darlin ... be-bop is the music of the future.

Dexter Gordon

#15. When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it's composition. If you don't understand what it's about, you're depriving yourself of being really able to communicate this poem.

Dexter Gordon

#16. If I were to call it black music, that would be untrue. I don't know what that is, unless it would be some African drums or something.

Dexter Gordon

#17. Music is a reservoir ... of sounds.

Dexter Gordon

#18. A lot of times I go back to record and to make a tour, but I'm very happy to do it, because it gives me an opportunity to dig and hear what's going on.

Dexter Gordon