American language Quotes by Cecil Taylor

The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…

— Cecil Taylor

Mother, being a pianist, told me how to play with my fingers on the piano.

— Cecil Taylor

To feel is perhaps the most terrifying thing in this society.

— Cecil Taylor

When I came out of the conservatory, the first thing I did was to go see Thelonious Monk.

— Cecil Taylor

To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.

— Cecil Taylor

In short, [Coltrane's] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the…

— Cecil Taylor

One of the things Mother said to me, 'You want this, you're going to practice.' And I know how to practice.

— Cecil Taylor

They say, 'We will give you money, but we want you to play this or that.' And I always thought, 'If I'm going to…

— Cecil Taylor

You know what the material is so that you never play it the same way twice.

— Cecil Taylor

Doesn't that fool know I recorded that song because I like it?

— Cecil Taylor

You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it.

— Cecil Taylor

I'm saying that people who are enmeshed in situations of subjugation and have to live, have to find ways to project their dignity as…

— Cecil Taylor

Before he fought Billy Conn, Joe Louis said, 'He can run, but he can't hide.' That's how I feel about New York: You can…

— Cecil Taylor

What I am doing is creating a language. A different American language.

— Cecil Taylor

Sometimes when it goes really well, you wonder, who's that at the piano?

— Cecil Taylor