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Duke Ellington Quotes - Page 4

All Quotes Art Children Inspirational Jazz Music Today
Billy Strayhorn was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and his in mine.

Billy Strayhorn was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and his in mine.

Duke Ellington
Eye, Arms, Mines
Duke Ellington (1973). “Music is my mistress”, Doubleday Books

Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.

Duke Ellington
Music, Missing You, Playing Jazz
1954 In Look, 10 Aug.

Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine".

Duke Ellington
White, House, Wish

New York is a place where the rich walk, the poor drive Cadillacs, and beggars die of malnutrition with thousands of dollars hidden in their mattresses.

Duke Ellington
New York, Dollars, Cadillacs
Duke Ellington (1973). “Music is my mistress”, Doubleday Books

The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a musician is he.

Duke Ellington
Musician, Problem, Made

If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original.

Duke Ellington
Music, Jazz, Epitome

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