Benny Goodman Quotes

• Benny Goodman plays the clarinet. I play music.

  

  Artie Shaw
  • Music
  • Clarinet
  • Benny Goodman

• Listening to Benny [Goodman] talk about the clarinet was like listening to a surgeon get hung up on a scalpel.

  

  Artie Shaw
  • Up
  • Listening
  • Surgeon

• When I first met Benny Goodman he wouldn't talk about anything but clarinets, mouthpieces, reeds, etc. When I tried to change the subject, he said 'But that's what we have in common. We both play clarinet.' I said, 'No, Benny, that's where we're different. You play clarinet, I play music.'

  

  Artie Shaw
  • Music
  • Different
  • Clarinet

• The distance between me and Benny [Goodman], was that I was trying to play a musical thing, and Benny was trying to swing. Benny had great fingers; I'd never deny that. But listen to our two versions of 'Star Dust.' I was playing; he was swinging.

  

  Artie Shaw
  • Great
  • Trying
  • Star