Art Blakey quotes

Art Blakey was an influential American jazz drummer and bandleader, best known for his work with the Jazz Messengers. His dynamic playing and mentorship helped shape the hard bop era and inspired generations of musicians. He played a pivotal role in nurturing young jazz talent throughout his career. Here are 7 of his quotes:

A name doesn't make the music. It's just called that to differentiate it from other types of music.

Art Blakey

You can't seperate modern jazz from rock or from rhythm and blues - you can't seperate it. Because that's where it all started, and that's where it all come from - that's where I learned to keep rhythm - in church.

Art Blakey

Jazz is known all over the world as an American musical art form and that's it. No America, no jazz. I've seen people try to connect it to other countries, for instance to Africa, but it doesn't have a damn thing to do with Africa.

Art Blakey

Music washes away the dust of every day life.

Art Blakey

On a live performance: "If you feel like tapping your feet, tap your feet. If you feel like clapping your hands, clap your hands. And if you feel like taking off your shoes, take off your shoes. We are here to have a ball. So we want you to leave your worldly troubles outside and come in here and swing."

Art Blakey

What ever truth drops on it eventually grinds to a powder.

Art Blakey