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We're blues people. And blues never lets tragedy have the last word.

— Wynton Marsalis

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Music

More quotes by Wynton Marsalis

The first jazz musician was a trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, and the last will be a trumpeter, the archangel Gabriel.

Some stances are just conducive to swinging. If I stand up straight for too long it's harder to swing. Plus my feet hurt.

Quotable Jazz (2002)

I think that virtuosity is the first sign of morality in a musician. It means you're serious enough to practice.

For Wynton Marsalis’ 55th birthday (2015)

Democracy dies when you do not understand the need for leveling, and to create wealth for everybody, and to see in your neighbor not an enemy, but a friend, and for elites to manage themselves.

Wynton Marsalis on What Jazz Can Teach Us About Democracy (2026)

That's what I have to say as a band leader. I can't say, "Well, I'm going to solo on every tune. Every time somebody plays it's me." That's not the solution.

Wynton Marsalis on What Jazz Can Teach Us About Democracy (2026)

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The emphasis of study upon a particular aspect of music is in itself ideological because it contains implications about the music's value.

Lucy Green

Music is well said to be the speech of angels.

Thomas Carlyle Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (1827)

Music has no subject beyond the combinations of notes we hear, for music speaks not only by means of sounds, it speaks nothing but sound.

Eduard Hanslick

Above the pitch, out of tune, and off the hinges.

François Rabelais Gargantua and Pantagruel (1532)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Wynton Marsalis (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.