Norman Granz

I'm talking as a professional impresario. I'm not judging anybody at all.

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.

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

As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.

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.

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.

There are many artists that I present that I admit I like less than I do others. But I think that they warrant being presented by my own, personal standards.

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.

My function at Verve was that of a genuine producer in artists and repertoire.

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

The record companies are interested in the kind of sales they can get from the rock groups.

My juices needed restoring. I needed a sabbatical from the record business.