Boy, I’m just quietly doing my thing, and I hope they’ll look around and get my record out.

About Marian McPartland

Margaret Marian McPartland OBE (nee Turner; 20 March 1918 – 20 August 2013), was an English-American jazz pianist, composer, and writer. She was the host of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on National Public Radio from 1978 to 2011.

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More quotes from Marian McPartland

I’m not too fond of changing things into waltzes, but sometimes that works.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I need to get up and walk around and keep my knees from getting bad, which is what’s happening.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I’m trying to get the record that I made at my birthday party last year, trying to get that out, and the lawyers are diddling around with it and it probably won’t be out until next year. I don’t know.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

Well it’s because the record companies are pumping away with their commercial stuff. I think it’s a shame.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

At the risk of being a fuddy-duddy I don’t have a computer; I don’t have e-mail; and I really don’t need something in my house that I would be sitting in front of for hours.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

As long as I can still be on my own and do my own thing and be working full time, it’s great.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I would really hate to have e-mail. It’s bad enough with all the mail I get.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

Although I do feel that with a show like ours we ourselves are getting a lot more young listeners at concerts.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

So if I think of something in my head I don’t have to do it. If I can’t do I don’t do it, I do something else.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

So I have a friend who works for me once a week. She’s got e-mail, so anybody that must send an e-mail, they send it to her and she faxes it to me. Sounds like a long way of doing things, but it works for me.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I love to play in the different keys like B or F sharp, or keys that most people don’t play in, because they have a better resonance or something. I’m really not fond of F and C. I just stay away from those if I can.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I like minor tunes.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

Nowadays it seems to me nobody takes trouble about anything, especially writing songs.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

Boy, I’m just quietly doing my thing, and I hope they’ll look around and get my record out.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

The house is in turmoil with records on every space. In the kitchen and in the dining room is covered with records. I don’t have a big enough house to accommodate everything.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I’d just as soon be on a good Steinway or Yamaha just as well.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

It’s awful to have to, but I’ve started thinking about that, you know. 86. I’m thinking, well, maybe I might make it to 90. At least I’d like to have my brains.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

Baldwin is sort of getting to be a bit funny. I don’t know what happened, but a few years ago they suddenly went bankrupt and Gibson bought the whole outfit. Since then they haven’t seemed to be doing an awfully good job of providing pianos.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

There are a million good tunes.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

My hands look terrible but I can do anything I want to do, so, you know, I just think I’m playing all around with more good taste and not dashing up and down the piano.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

I have a West Coast rhythm section and a New York rhythm section. I’ve got them spread out all over the place.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

By the way, I got a Grammy, which was a big thrill.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host

That’s something Mary Lou Williams used to tell me: If you’re not feeling right about what you’re doing and you play a minor tune it all comes back, falls into place. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do it.

Marian McPartland

British pianist, composer, writer and radio host