«I believe in things that are developed through hard work. I always like people who have developed long and hard, especially through introspection and a lot of discussion. I think what they arrive at is usually a much deeper and more beautiful thing than the person who seems to have the ability and fluidity from the beginning. I say this because it’s a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don’t have that ability. I didn’t. I had to know what I was doing. And yes, ultimately it turned out that these people weren’t able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians.

Miles Davis is an example of somebody that I think was a late arrive, event though he was recorded when he first came on the scene. You can hear how consciously he was soloing and how his knowledge was a very aware thing. He just constantly kept working and contributing to his own craft of writing and playing. And then at one point it all came together and he emerged with maturity, and he became a total artist and influence, making a kind of beauty that has never been heard before in music.»

Bill Evans