Ilse Huizinga - Quotes

Quotes

• "On his way out my singing teacher remarked, "By the way, why don't you become a professional singer?" and all I could think was: "Kidding, right?"
• "We did some weird gigs, surrounded by screaming pin-ball machines, on working dairy farms and at jazz festivals where hardrock cafés had decided to put on some jazz for one night only. When we played at Amsterdam's high security prison, staff removed knives, forks and even pencils before the show. Our bass player was too terrified to look up all night."
• "I was able to tell Abbey Lincoln in person how much her music moves me. That it's as if we're soulmates. On her departure I asked if I could kiss her and she said "Gimme a hug!" She was like a saint to me and it still gives me goosebumps."
• "The record companies were not exactly waiting for me. But an album is a business card for a wide audience. So when the labels gave no response, I produced my first album myself. We did everything. I cycled around record stores in the middle of winter. Boy, did I learn a lot from that about what I want and don't want."
• "Legislation has killed off live music in pubs and clubs in Amsterdam. There is no sandbox, no playground for jazz anymore."