Bill Evans Quotes

"I hardly believe I'm as talented as some others. Someone with talent possesses a kind of facility and plays well as early as 16 or 17, much better than I could play myself at that age. I had to practice a lot and spend a lot of time searching and digging before I got anywhere. And because of that, I later became more aware of what I was doing. I wasn't an imitation. I found myself with a synthesis of the playing of many musicians. From this something came out and I think it's really mine." - Bill Evans

source: Interview with Jazz Magazine (France), 1965

Bill Evans Quotes

"I always like people who have developed long and hard, particularly through introspection and a lot of dedication. I think that what they arrive at is usually...deeper and more beautiful...than the person who seems to have that ability and fluidity from the beginning. I say this because it's a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don't have that ability. I didn't. I had to know what I was doing. And ultimately it turned out that these people weren't able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians. I believe in things that are developed through hard work." - Bill Evans

source: 'Metaphors for the Musician' by Randy Halberstadt.

Miles Davis Quotes

"You have to be born with it. You can't even buy it. If you could buy it, they'd have it at the next Newport Festival." - Miles Davis

Bill Evans Quotes

"Talent is cheap, and many talents treat themselves cheaply." - Bill Evans