Kurt Elling Quotes

I can't see why people call me a bad influence. I meet a lot of kids who are into music. I spend as much time as I can with them. I listen to their demos, and I'm encouraging.

I'm fortunate I have this coterie of musicians around me to help take music to next level. Being surrounded by so much creative energy, so many creative people really feeds that creativity in me.

I have tons of friends in the heavy-metal music world, and just going to see them inspires me.

Hopefully, I can stay around a lot of young musicians and feed off of them.

I live in Chicago, and I play in a band there.

I think it's so dope that I'm here in Chicago and contributing to the music scene that's thriving. People are so happy Chicago's shining that everyone is willing to say 'I represent Chicago.' That wasn't always the case.

The point is, technology has empowered so many musicians, you know?

You know as I started as a shy young conductor, I always wanted to cooperate. To build up the musicians. To help them to be better than without a conductor. And sometimes young talented musicians have to be encouraged.

When we first met, I was trying to put a band together. I asked around at school for other guys who wanted to play in a band. Someone told me about a juvenile delinquent they knew who played bongos.

I'm from Chicago, I live in Chicago and I wanted very much for the music in Chicago to succeed.

I love getting into a studio with a bunch of friends. When the day's done, we've made something. We recognize that we're from different walks of the music industry, and there's no reason we shouldn't be collaborating. That's what I'm trying to create with thenewno2 - a sense of community.

It's been a joy to be a part of other people's journey, to be able to inspire and be a part of new singers coming up in this business.

With Sumthin Else Music Works, I wanted to spread the love and give newcomers a chance to make it because something that really helped me were all the people who had given me an opportunity when I was putting my career together.

The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence. And they'll tell you if you ask.

There I met Gordon Jackson and Dave Meredith who were playing in local bands.

You'll find little schools of musicians experimenting with different ways of making music in Brooklyn, all through Manhattan, in Queens, in Jersey, you know? The city is still bubbling with creativity.

People sometimes ask if I want to be a solo artist, but it just wouldn't be any fun being on your own.

Pharrell's affected everyone through music. To work with someone like that - it's a gift. You ever meet somebody you can learn so much from, and all you have to do is be quiet and watch? That's what it was like. I took in how he moves, speaks, how he creates, the whole nine.

I think the future looks great for music, musicians, bass players, and all we love about music.

Bud Johnson, God rest his soul of fame, a tenor saxophonist. Bud was always a big, big, big booster of mine and he always when I first met Bud in Pittsburgh when he came through there, he heard me sing and he wanted me to come to Chicago.

I remember times when the whole music scene was just flourishing.

Now that I am much older, I have had a number of sax players tell me I was responsible for them playing sax. Some of them I have admired over the years.

I have been tremendously impacted and influenced by my coaches. It's nice to play for people that are going to support you.

I never play as well without these guys; the best I have ever been creatively has been with Pearl Jam.

When you are surrounded by talented musicians, you learn so much from them.