When you think about musicians who are reading music, my contention has always been the energy that you're using deciphering what the symbol is is taking away from the maximum creative energy that you might have had if you understood… — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Mother, being a pianist, told me how to play with my fingers on the piano. — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
When I came out of the conservatory, the first thing I did was to go see Thelonious Monk. — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
One of the things Mother said to me, 'You want this, you're going to practice.' And I know how to practice. — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
You know what the material is so that you never play it the same way twice. — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it. — Cecil Taylor Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
![“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 means that a man uses to say something from what he ultimately says. Technique is not separated from its content in a great artist.” quote by Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/279/cecil-taylor-20434_art_in-short-coltrane-s-tone-is-beautiful-be_358656.jpg)
