36+ Norman Granz Quotes On Culture, Power And World

Norman Granz was an American jazz music impresario, producer, and record label executive. He was the founder of the record labels Clef, Norgran, and Verve, and was the producer of the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series. Granz was a major influence on the development of jazz, helping to create a greater public appreciation for the genre and breaking down racial barriers in the music industry. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Norman Granz on life, leadership, culture.

Top 10 Norman Granz Quotes

1. My juices needed restoring. I needed a sabbatical from the record business.
2. To play today in London, next week in Madrid and the week after that in Warsaw is a bit better than playing Newark and Baltimore and Philadelphia. I've been doing that for 20 years.
3. Amsterdam must have more than a million people. But the only area where jazz is really profitable and successful in an economic sense is in Japan. That's because they haven't been exposed enough.
4. Sponsors and networks will really go all out and simply evaluate people on the basis of talent.
5. If you don't get substantially what you want, be ready to walk. And don't look back.
6. Germany is probably the richest country in Western Europe. Yet they wouldn't take any television with Duke and Ella, their reaction being that people weren't interested in it.
7. There are very few groups that really stay together. The leaders of groups make enough money to be able to afford to work a maximum of 35-40 weeks a year.
8. If I were to put on Barbra Streisand and Duke Ellington, one might say the combination isn't good.
9. I don't say that the supposed Civil Rights development is a myth, but it's a matter of dealing with reality. It's purely peripheral and, in many cases, it's just a facade.
10. As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.

Norman Granz Short Quotes

• You’re probably smarter than you present yourself.
• I'm talking as a professional impresario. I'm not judging anybody at all.
• I allowed artists to play for as long as they felt they could justifiably continue to create.
• My function at Verve was that of a genuine producer in artists and repertoire.
• You will always find a few people in any area that would like things done completely their way.
• I made it easier for many artists to play in certain areas.
• The record companies are interested in the kind of sales they can get from the rock groups.
• Ellington is a writer and arranger, as well as a musician and leader. He does movie sound tracks.

Norman Granz Quotes About Jazz

The public, hearing pop music, is, without knowing it, also soaking up jazz. — Norman Granz

I don't think that jazz, as any kind of an art form, has any permanence attached to it, apart from the practitioners of it. — Norman Granz

For years, Jazz At The Philharmonic albums were the only ones of their kind. — Norman Granz

The whole reason for Jazz at the Philharmonic was to take it to places where I could break down segregation. — Norman Granz

When I was doing jazz concerts in America, I would use the biggest names I could find. — Norman Granz

The history of all big jazz bands shows was, first they played for dancing, and then they played for singing. — Norman Granz

Jazz is America's own. It is played and listened to by all peoples - in harmony together. Pigmentation differences have no place... as in genuine democracy, only performance counts. — Norman Granz

I don't want to sound as if I'm doing something tremendously special. But I am a jazz fan. — Norman Granz

Jazz was uplifted by what I did. — Norman Granz

The economic picture in the States today doesn't allow for jazz concerts in a tour fashion. People now are too used to the Festival, which gives them more names for the same price. — Norman Granz

Norman Granz Quotes About Years

I'm concerned with trend. I don't know where jazz fans will come from 20 years from now. — Norman Granz

I don't know who's 18 years old today that, 20 years hence, is going to be a jazz fan. — Norman Granz

I still continue to do at least four concert tours a year, and in many cases, as many as six. — Norman Granz

Norman Granz Quotes About Europe

If you look at my audiences, even in Europe, they're hardly teenagers. — Norman Granz

In 1958, I decided that I was going to live in Europe permanently. So in 1959 I moved to Lugano, Switzerland. — Norman Granz

I find myself more at peace when I live in Europe. — Norman Granz

Norman Granz Famous Quotes And Sayings

At Verve, my bookkeeper would invariably say, 'Well, why do you want to put out Roy Eldridge?' Or 'Why do you want to put out Ben Webster? They don't sell.' And I'd say, 'Well, whether they sell or not, they're important, they should be recorded and they're what Verve stands for, so we don't have to discuss that any further. — Norman Granz

I don't think I will ever do any tours again in the United States. I rather think that that's over with. — Norman Granz

Life Lessons by Norman Granz

1. Norman Granz was a tireless advocate for racial equality and civil rights, demonstrating the power of music to bring people together and create a more just society.
2. His work as a record producer, promoter, and label owner helped to bring jazz to a wider audience and gave many talented musicians the opportunity to reach a larger audience.
3. His commitment to fairness and equality serves as an example of how to use music to create a more equitable and inclusive world.