Who said this quote?

it was by some jazz musician when all the trumpets would play like heka fast but then one guy played long drawn out notes and he said "It's not about what notes you play, it's about what notes you don't play". Does anyone happen to know who said that?

Sound like the late great Miles Dewy Davis 3th, Miles was famous for many different catchy phrases during his long run in the music. The musician in his band refer to him as chief that was his last band before he left us.

Probably Miles Davis or Thelonious Monk. They both considered that in their own playing.

I'm pretty sure it was Dizzy Gillespe. But I'm not 100% about that.

I think it's Miles Davis if I remember correctly.
It has to be an important musician otherwise nobody would remember the quote.
Anyway, that is the style he played.

Definitely the Monk
Cheers
B.