SKF NOTE: Digitizing audio cassettes today. I came across this quote that echoes my lifelong belief that music is a language, and the best musicians communicate through music as well as our best orators communicate through the spoken word.

“All people hear music, some people listen to it. There is a difference. I prefer to listen. In the old days there were no discographies, in fact there were no jazz magazines. We had to listen to the old records and try to figure out the personnel and the soloists. Jazz men were recording with pop bands and we had to identify the players. After a while, it became easy, for the performer’s sound and style was as easy to recognize as his speaking voice.”

Source: Milt Gabler, Founder of Commodore Records, Town Hall Concert 1945 liner notes.