“With a smaller setting, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility wi...” — Kurt Elling Quote

“With a smaller setting, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility within a given moment, but not necessarily the velocity you have with a big band.”

“I think of jazz as being homage through innovation. Don't quote that as a definition, but it comes pretty close.”

“I was very lucky that more experienced musicians allowed me to caterwaul until I figured out what it was really about.”

“I would definitely say the Oakland Raiders are the punk rock band of football.”

“Nirvana was a band that led you somewhere, as opposed to all the grunge bands that began and ended with themselves.”

“In the late '70s, I had a band - the David Johansen band, for lack of a better name - and I started collecting, not records, but tapes from people I knew who had jump-blues records.”