Quotes from Paul Desmond

I tried practicing for a few weeks and ended up playing too fast.

The qualities in music which I considered most important - and still do - were beauty, simplicity, originality, discrimination, and sincerity.

I think I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to sound like a dry martini.

I would like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.

Our basic audience begins with creaking elderly types of twenty-three and above.

I discovered early in life that if you take gym first period, you can go into the wrestling room and sit in the corner and sleep.

We used to get on planes, and they'd ask who we were, and we'd say, 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet', and they'd say, 'Who?' In later years they'd say, 'Oh', which amounts to the same thing.

Writing is like jazz. It can be learned, but it can't be taught.

I was overlooked long before anyone knew who I was.

I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.