Larry Carlton Quotes

• In jazz improv, there is no such thing as wrong notes, only notes that are better chosen and it's not about the note you play, it's about the note you play next.

  Larry Carlton

  Play, Next, Jazz

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• I want to figure out how I can make the most important statement with the least amount of information, so I don't run out of ideas by the time I get to my second or third chorus.

  Larry Carlton

  Running, Player, Ideas

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• It's the opportunity to play something completely different, responding to what happened just before you started to play, and I love that.

  Larry Carlton

  Music, Opportunity, Play

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• Back in the day in my teens I was listening to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery a lot; before that I was listening to what I would call now the more 'simple' jazz players (but still very valid), like Barney Kessell or Johnny Smith; I learnt a lot of voicings from Johnny Smith records. Now, I listen to the old blues players; that's what you'd hear in my house if there was music on. It would be Albert Collins or Albert King.

  Larry Carlton

  Music, Kings, Simple

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• People ask me to describe how I play, and the most obvious answer is that I'm a jazz influenced guitar player. But I'm not a jazz guitar player. Wes Montgomery was a jazz guitarist, Joe Pass was a jazz guitarist (laughs).

  Larry Carlton

  Music, Player, Guitar

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• My first love in music was jazz, but I like it all," "I reacted emotionally to Art Blakey and, of course, to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery. I was all of 16 when I had my first guitar lesson with Joe. But I never focused on being a bebop player. I loved the harmony, rhythm and phrasing, but I wanted to apply them to my own concept and sound.

  Larry Carlton

  Art, First Love, Player

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• There are any number of players with extensive jazz backgrounds who haven't been able to fit into other styles," "It all boils down to taste, to playing what's appropriate for the context in which you're working.

  Larry Carlton

  Player, Numbers, Style

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• Lenny Breau had the ability to reach into your heart.

  Larry Carlton

  Music, Heart, Ability

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