Quotes from Horace Silver

Jazz is not background music. You must concentrate in order to get the most out of it. You must absorb it.

We all have to open our minds, stretch forth, take chances and venture out musically to try and arrive at something new and different.

I personally do not believe in politics, hatred, or anger in my musical composition.

Musical composition should bring happiness and joy to people and make them forget their troubles.

I'm shooting for longevity. The road is hard on your body.

I had the house rhythm section at a club called the Sundown in Hartford. Stan Getz came up and played with us.

I've found in composing that being simple and profound—having in-depthness in your music—is the most difficult thing to do. Anybody can write a whole lot of notes, which may or may not say something . . . But why make it complicated for the musicians to play? Why make it difficult for the listeners to hear?