There's no future without the past and anybody who doesn't really understand where jazz has come from has no right to try to direct where it's going.
Cannonball AdderleyRead
A young tenor player was complaining to me that Coleman Hawkins made him nervous. Man, I told him Hawkins was supposed to make him nervous! Hawkins has been making other sax players nervous for forty years!
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great artists should inspire nervousness and challenge others to elevate their craft.
Cannonball Adderley’s words highlight the role of established artists like Coleman Hawkins in influencing younger musicians. Instead of allowing nerves stemming from intimidation to dissuade him, the young tenor player should embrace this tension as a catalyst for growth and improvement in his own playing. It’s a reminder that the presence of greatness can serve as motivation to strive harder and reach new heights in one's artistic endeavors.
Themes
MusicInspirationArtNervousnessGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a music workshop, a mentor could quote this to encourage students to embrace the challenge presented by more experienced musicians.
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