I knew even if I'm a cowboy, I'm going to be involved in jazz in some way.
Interpretation
The quote expresses the idea of integrating one's passions and interests regardless of their conventional roles.
In this quote, Dave Brubeck highlights the importance of personal identity and creativity, suggesting that one can pursue multiple interests or passions, such as being a cowboy and engaging in jazz music. It emphasizes the idea that personal fulfillment comes from embracing a diverse range of experiences and self-expressions, rather than conforming strictly to societal roles.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about pursuing art in unconventional careers.
One of the reasons I believe in jazz is that the oneness of man can come through the rhythm of your heart. It’s the same anyplace in the world, that heartbeat. It’s the first thing you hear when you’re born — or before you’re born — and it’s the last thing you hear.
When you hear Bach or Mozart, you hear perfection. Remember that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were great improvisers. I can hear that in their music.
What I want to happen is to be really creative, and to play something new in the improvisations, every time.
Many people don't understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz... And that is really the idea of democracy - freedom within the Constitution or discipline. You don't just get out there and do anything you want.
I’m beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when I was 20 rather than when I was 82.
I got a poster from Columbia Records, and there's Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus, Ellington, Count Basie - everybody in that poster has died, I'm the only one left. And great players like Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan, it's hard to believe they're gone because we were all so close. But I believe in the future and the tradition will go on.
Humans like stories. Humans need stories. Stories are good. Stories work. Story clarifies and captures the essence of the human spirit. Story, in all its forms—of life, of love, of knowledge—has traced the upward surge of mankind. And story, you mark my words, will be with the last human to draw breath.
There rise her timeless capitals of empires daily born, whose plinths are laid at midnight and whose streets are packed at morn; and here come tired youths and maids that feign to love or sin in tones like rusty razor blades to tunes like smitten tin.
I never try to convey a message, I just want to tell a story. Why that story in particular? I have no idea, but I have learned to surrender to the muse. I become obsessed with a theme or with certain stories; they haunt me for years, and finally, I write them.
I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting the last little piece perfect.
I think there's a difference between a working actor, a movie star and a celebrity. They're all three different things.
On Creating — What we crave, what we want to see in others eyes, is that servile expression, an unconcealed infatuation with our gestures.
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