Herbie Hancock Playing Quotations

It's not easy to play in a framework that requires simplicity and to tastefully find ways to interject the kind of freedom that we have in playing jazz.

I started off with classical music, and I got into jazz when I was about 14 years old. And I've been playing jazz ever since.

It hit me like a ton of bricks, and I had to almost hide my face, because tears were welling up in my eyes. Just the thought of playing with Bird, wow!

I started playing piano when I was 7. And I started with classical lessons. Then I really got exposed to jazz.

Although my parents were playing jazz for me when I was a kid, I didn't pay much attention until I saw someone my age improvising, playing jazz..

A lot of the people that are making the music didn't have the kind of experiences I've had, playing with some of the great masters of jazz.

Sometimes you can practice something but what you wind up playing when you're out doing a gig is not what you practiced. What you learn is not necessarily what you practice.

It's very different from classical music. In classical music, you are playing something that is written by someone else.