Chick Corea

“I've noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.”

“I get interested in the various ways that music is being done in the culture, and some of it I like thoroughly enough to want to learn about it. The way I have been successful at doing that is to become part of it.”

“I don't think any artist really knows why a song gets popular.”

“If I had to look at 'Now He Sings'... from outside myself, I see it as a natural part of the growth of the jazz culture, which I've always been so happy - honored, really - to be a small part of.”

“It's made music more accessible with YouTube and the ability to trade audio files. But it hasn't made it more popular.”

“My wife, Gayle, is a wonderful musician and singer. We share music, so it's a deep bond.”

“Miles Davis was a part of my life from 1947 on. I was born in 1941 and I first heard him in 1947 on a 78 rpm. And then I followed his career, starting with his first solo album in 1951. He was an icon and inspiration and a mentor to me.”

“I decided that I didn't want to spend my time in a liberal arts college.”

“Only a spiritual being has awareness.”

“Now, when I play soul piano, for instance, and I play a rendition of 'Spain,' I do it deconstructively. That's the most fun, but I can only do that when I'm on my own.”

“Without a doubt, my richest relationships are my long-term friendships with musical partners, because we make music together. That's what we love to do with our lives.”

“I call myself a teacher because they want me to call myself a teacher, but actually, what I'm doing is I'm studying.”

“I haven't traveled in Africa nearly as much as I'd like to. I've been there a few times, and I'd like to learn more about the various cultures in Africa. But that's the basis point of where all of the music that I love is based upon, from Africa to Cuba to Puerto Rico to South America.”

“I like Stevie Wonder as my favorite non-pianist pianist. I mean, I shouldn't call him a non-pianist, because he's really a great pianist, but he doesn't feature it that much - he uses his keyboards and his piano technique to support his great songs and so forth, but he can really blow.”

“I enjoy playing the band as the band. I 'be' the whole band and I'm playing the drums, I'm playing the guitar, I'm playing the saxophone. To me, the most wonderful thing about playing music is that.”

“It's a constant challenge to get your arrangement and musical expression across to a new audience, especially when you're playing live every night like we are.”

“When I came to New York after high school in 1959 and started to meet musicians, 'Hot House' was like a standard jam session tune.”

“Art is a subject that is inundated with opinions. In fact, that's all it is about is opinions.”

“It's very difficult for me to dislike an artist. No matter what he's creating, the fact that he's experiencing the joy of creation makes me feel like we're in a brotherhood of some kind... we're in it together.”

“You get a zero at the end of your age number, and you get some extra attention. That's what I found out.”