Listening is more important than anything else because that's what music is. Somebody is playing something and you're receiving it. It is sending and receiving. Carla Bley importantlistenmusic Change image and share on social
When Ronald Reagan was elected I was on a bus traveling with a band in France. I wrote a little arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner in a minor key. Carla Bley arrangementbandbanner Change image and share on social
One performer whose band played my music better than I could myself was Art Farmer. He recorded 'Sing Me Softly of the Blues' and 'Ad Infinitum'. Carla Bley artbandblue Change image and share on social
I just got to hear every note. After I left Birdland, I started working at the Jazz Gallery. In the end, I still couldn't play, but I knew how to listen. I was probably the world's best listener. Carla Bley birdlandendgallery Change image and share on social
It would be really hard to get serious about anything political today unless it was a joke. Carla Bley hardjokepolitical Change image and share on social
When you have 13 horns, and one is soloing, you have 12 people to play the richest, fullest chord you could ever imagine behind that solo. Carla Bley chordfullhorn Change image and share on social
Living composers writing for big band are very few and far between. There are not a lot of them, and I have a talent for doing it. I am zeroing in on what I do best. Carla Bley bandbigcomposer Change image and share on social
When you are studying jazz, the best thing to do is listen to records or listen to live music. It isn't as though you go to a teacher. You just listen as much as you can and absorb everything. Carla Bley absorbjazzlisten Change image and share on social
I don't think you can ever regain your ignorance. Carla Bley ignoranceregain Change image and share on social
