Quotes from Gary Giddins

Yet the nearly metamorphic quality of his successes would fully exceed the dominion of money.

I regard my entire orchestra as one large instrument, and I try to play on that instrument to the fullest of its capabilities. My aim is and always has been to mold the music around the man. I've found out that it doesn't matter so much what you have available, but rather what you make of what you do have—finding a good "fit" for every instrumentalist in the group. I study each man in the orchestra and find out what he can do best, and what he would like to do.

People should not feel intimidated by received wisdom. You have to discover it yourself. If I tell you that Armstrong is great, it's meaningless; you have to hear it.