109 Quotes by Pat Metheny

The pianist Cecil Taylor is extremely melodic; the guitarist Derek Bailey is extremely melodic, and Ornette Coleman.

For me, let's keep jazz as folk music. Let's not make jazz classical music. Let's keep it as street music, as people's everyday-life music. Let's see jazz musicians continue to use the materials, the tools, the spirit of the actual time that they're living in, as what they build their lives as musicians around.

From 1962 to 1965, the guitar became this icon of youth culture, thanks mostly to the Beatles

I'm triggering acoustic instruments. I'm literally beating, smacking, hitting, blowing, doing physical things. It's an incredibly exciting way to make music.

I'm always trying to find 'connections' between things. That art is the juxtaposition of a lot of things that seem unrelated but add up to something recognizable.

I would always contend that talent is an element, but over the long run, ultimately, a minor part of it all; it is mostly hard work.

If you come to my house, you won't see a wall of trophies or things like that. I'm sort of 'on to the next thing' all the time.

Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.

'The Unity Band' project has been life-changing for me. I have led many groups of talented musicians, but this is unlike anything else.