Jon Batiste Quotes

I just want to play music with a band, live.

I remember when I was little, my mom asked me, 'Would you like to play the violin or the piano?' I looked at that giant monster and said to myself - I am not going to lock myself on that bench the whole day. This is small and lightweight. I can play from standing, sitting or walking.

I've always enjoyed playing live onstage.

Piano should be the one. Yeah, because that's your basis. Everything is right there in front of you.

I want to sing for people. I want them to have the music. It's a nice feeling.

I'd just as soon be on a good Steinway or Yamaha just as well.

It is my aim, my destination in life to make the cello as beloved an instrument as the violin and piano.

I couldn't sing without a guitar. I like the way it feels to sing and be holding a guitar, even if I'm not playing it that much. All my idols that I grew up liking always had a guitar on them, but they didn't play it - Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello. It's like having a partner with you.

The typewriting machine, when played with expression, is no more annoying than the piano when played by a sister or near relation.

When you're playing, you're playing something for the world to hear.

I didn't sing, but I did play the drums.

A song isn't finished until it's played live, and then it moves on.

The piano is the instrument I can play the most.

Pianos - if they don't like what you're saying, then they won't talk back to you. And you want it to talk back to you.

Well, I think at first, songs were sort of the vehicle which allowed me to be on the stage and get to hold a guitar and get to sing.

I feel like piano is my main instrument. I'm most comfortable on the piano.

For me, the keyboard is always an additional sound to the piano. Piano is the main instrument; I can't go anywhere without acoustic piano. It's been my best friend since I was 6 years old.

I play the saxophone, and I used to play the piano.

Sometimes if you're in the studio for a very long time, you want to get out and play live shows and vice versa.

My favourite guitar was - I can't remember if it was '50s or '60s - a pale wood Telecaster, and it made me a better player. It was beautiful, so easy to play.

The Steinway piano is such an incomparable instrument. Due to its virtues, I am able to express all my musical feelings.

I'm really getting better at guitar. I'm not trapped behind a piano. You can get out and move with a guitar and still direct the band.

The pedal is the soul of the piano.

You're in direct contact with the music by having the strings under your fingers. It's not mechanical like a piano.

I just started doing this one-man show, and I wanted to be able to score it, so I bought a guitar, and got a keyboard and got a harmonica. I remember when I started that I didn't understand why a harmonica had different letters on them.