Thelonious Monk

I say, play your own way. Don’t play what the public want — you play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doing — even if it does take them fifteen, twenty years.
-Thelonious Monk

I don’t know where jazz is going. Maybe it’s going to hell. You can’t make anything go anywhere. It just happens.
-Thelonious Monk

The inside of the tune is the part that makes the outside sound good.
-Thelonious Monk

Don’t play everything; let some things go by. Some music just imagined. What you don’t play can be more important that what you do.
-Thelonious Monk

A note can be small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.
-Thelonious Monk

Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig, and when it comes, he’s out of shape and can’t make it.
-Thelonious Monk

When you’re swinging, swing some more.
-Thelonious Monk

What should we wear tonight? Sharp as possible!
-Thelonious Monk

Always leave them wanting more.
-Thelonious Monk

Don’t sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene. These pieces were written so as to have something to play and get cats interested enough to come to rehearsal.
-Thelonious Monk

To a drummer who didn’t want to solo.
You’ve got it! If you don’t want to play, tell a joke or dance, but in any case, you got it!
-Thelonious Monk

Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself.
-Thelonious Monk