Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Miles DavisRead
Monk taught me more about music composition than anyone else on 52nd Street.
Interpretation
Miles Davis credits Monk with significantly influencing his understanding of music composition.
In this quote, Miles Davis reflects on the profound impact that Thelonious Monk had on his musical development, specifically emphasizing Monk's unique approach to composition that stood out among the many talented musicians on 52nd Street. Davis acknowledges that Monk's teachings and style shaped his own artistic expression and understanding of jazz, highlighting the importance of mentorship and learning from peers in the creative process.
In practice
During a music workshop, this quote could be used to inspire young composers about the importance of learning from predecessors.
Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.
I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.
When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.
Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
My ego only needs a good rhythm section
I never see the whips niggas be claimin' they drivin,_x000D_ _x000D_ I guess 'entertainment' means blatantly lyin'.
I'm an engineer. I see myself as a toolmaker and the musicians are my customers... They use my tools.
I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop. At the time that I am bored or understand - I use those words interchangeably - another appetite has formed. A lot of people try to think up ideas. I'm not one. I'd rather accept the irresistible possibilities of what I can't ignore.
Books don't live and die by awards. You don't listen to an Hector Lavoe album because it won some awards.
I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a second. It's very instinctive. What you do is a fraction of a second, it's there and it's not there. But in this fraction of a second comes your past, comes your future, comes your relation with people, comes your ideology, comes your hate, comes your love - all together in this fraction of a second, it materializes there.
Without music, life would be a mistake.
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