Dexter Gordon quotes:

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.

Music is a reservoir... of sounds.

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.

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.

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

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

Jazz is a beautiful word. I love it.

If you can't play the Blues you might as well hang it up.

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

Jazz to me is a living music.

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

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

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

In nuclear war, all men are cremated equal.

In nuclear war all men are cremated equal.

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

When you know the lyrics to a tune, you have some kind of insight as to it's composition.

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.