Talk:Miles Davis
Eric Dolphy quote [edit]
I don't have an authoritative reference, but the context for the "foot" quote is said[1] to have been a blindfold test, with Miles commenting on the song "On Green Dolphin Street" from the Eric Dolpy Quintet album Outward Bound (1960).
Choking a white man quote [edit]
Can anyone find a reference for this other than one from a white supremacy website?
There's a reference from Jet in 1985 that refers to a "recent USA Today article."
http://books.google.com/books?id=FbEDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA1&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q=nice%20and%20slow&f=false
- In a recent USA Today article, reporter Miles White quotes Davis as saying: "If somebody told me I only had one hour to live, I'd spend it choking a White man. I'd do it nice and slow." But the veteran musician added, "The only White people I don't like are the prejudiced White people. Those the shoe don't fit, well, they don't wear it."
Unsourced [edit]
Wikiquote no longer allows unsourced quotations, and they are in process of being removed from our pages (see Wikiquote:Limits on quotations); but if you can provide a reliable and precise source for any quote on this list please move it to Miles Davis.
- If somebody told me I only had an hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow.
- During an interview, after growing aggravated about questions on the subject of race.
- A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it.
- On being called a legend.
- Jazz is like blues with a shot of heroin
- Who's that motherfucker? He can't play shit!
- on Cecil Taylor
- You a motherfucker.
- a compliment to Chick Corea, who thought he was about to be fired.
- He plays like somebody is standing on his foot.
- on Eric Dolphy
- He could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll.
- on Prince
- Why'd you put that white bitch on there?
- To George Avakian after seeing the cover chosen by Columbia for Miles Ahead.
- "You can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played." and "I love Pops" (Louis' nickname)
- on Louis Armstrong in a Playboy magazine interview.
- I’ll play it and tell you what it is later.
- During a recording session for Prestige, on the album "Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet" (1956).
- Listen baby, when I say later, I mean it! Later!
- After being approached by a relentless interviewer.
- There are no wrong notes.
- My ego only needs a good rhythm section.
- On being asked what he looked for in musicians.
- When you are creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain't the limit.
- Try taking the fucking horn out of your mouth.
- Davis was questioning the increasing length of John Coltrane solos, and Trane answered "I don't know how to stop."
- Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
