To me, a song is not finished. To me, there's no such thing as a finished anything. All of Beethoven's nine symphonies, to me, are one. I think of it as having no beginning and no end.
When they say 'jazz,' I'm thinking of a word called 'the creative process.' It intersects every vein and tributary, avenue, path, that everyone's living. It crosses through there, but it's been contained.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jazz represents the artistic journey and creativity that flows through all aspects of life.
Wayne Shorter's quote illustrates how jazz music encapsulates the essence of the creative process, suggesting that creativity is a fundamental part of human existence that connects to every experience and pathway of life. He indicates that while this creative force is omnipresent, it is often confined and not fully expressed in everyday life, highlighting the importance of recognizing and releasing our creative spirit.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a keynote speech at a creative workshop, one might say, 'As Wayne Shorter articulated, when they say 'jazz,' it reminds us of the broader creative process we must all embrace.'
More from Wayne Shorter
All quotes →Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz' means, 'I dare you.'
There's a steady forward march of a creative process that some of us stay with and don't give up - that should be an admirable thing - from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker to Miles to Ornette and some people who are not even known today - some kids coming up - people who are out to change the world.
The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this kind of risk, and courage is what we all need to create a better world.
I think that music opens portals and doorways into unknown sectors that it takes courage to leap into. I always think that there's a potential that we all have, and we can emerge, rise up to this potential, when necessary. We have to be fearless, courageous, and draw upon wisdom that we think we don't have.
Movies would be like a broad painted canvas... or a mystical process which cannot really be explained, like, 'What is electricity?' Along with the images that go on the screen, there's a corridor of dialogue that can happen through motion pictures, whether you're aware of it or not.
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Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? The one nearest the door of course.