--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My strength is to communicate with an…" description: "\"My strength is to communicate with an audience and to know what jazz singing is capable of.\" — Kurt Elling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kurt-elling-6944_capable_my-strength-is-to-communicate-with-an-au_577502.jpg" --- # My strength is to communicate with an audience and to know… ![“My strength is to communicate with an audience and to know what jazz singing is capable of.” quote by Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kurt-elling-6944_capable_my-strength-is-to-communicate-with-an-au_577502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kurt-elling-6944_capable_my-strength-is-to-communicate-with-an-au_577502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/kurt-elling-6944_capable_my-strength-is-to-communicate-with-an-au_577502.jpg) > “My strength is to communicate with an audience and to know what jazz singing is capable of.” [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communicating with an audience reveals the power of jazz singing. **In simple terms:** Jazz singing connects artist and listeners. Key Takeaway Understand and harness jazz vocal power. Themes music communication jazz Mood enthusiastic reflective Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - live performance - teaching - recording - collaboration Key Concepts Vocal technique audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - What makes jazz singing uniquely communicative? - How can singers deepen audience connection? A Different Perspective Audience may misinterpret nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-know/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-singing-2675890/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-capable-4753280/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-communicate-4753279/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Jazz singing\] is like pornography. You can't say what it is, but you know it when you see it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/jazz-singing-is-like-pornography-you-can-t-say-what-it-is-but-you/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [When we inform, we lead from strength; when we communicate, we lead from weakness—and it is precisely this confession of mortality that engages the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/when-we-inform-we-lead-from-strength-when-we-communicate-we-lead-from/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [I do love singing. I wouldn't say I'm any good, but I definitely love it - especially jazz singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/i-do-love-singing-i-wouldn-t-say-i-m-any-good-but-i-definitely-love/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [ You can't teach it \[jazz singing\]. There's nobody who can teach you how to sing jazz. Either you know how to sing jazz, or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/you-can-t-teach-it-jazz-singing-there-s-nobody-who-can-teach-you-how/) [Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/) > [I know I'm writing better now than I ever did for adults because I'm writing for an audience who know that they don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/i-know-i-m-writing-better-now-than-i-ever-did-for-adults-because-i-m/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [My audience is, you know, pinkos in big cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/my-audience-is-you-know-pinkos-in-big-cities/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [ You have to have a very holler-y sensibility. So they \[the audience\] know there's something worth listening to. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/you-have-to-have-a-very-holler-y-sensibility-so-they-the-audience/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [A magic show and a concert are very similar in the way I like keeping things a mystery and not doing them the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/a-magic-show-and-a-concert-are-very-similar-in-the-way-i-like-keeping/) [Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/) > [When you get off stage, the audience should know a little bit about you. Not where you are from, but how you see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/when-you-get-off-stage-the-audience-should-know-a-little-bit-about/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [I think the audience know which films are aimed at their pocket, and which films are aimed at their soul. There are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/i-think-the-audience-know-which-films-are-aimed-at-their-pocket-and/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [People don't like the music that's out now, that's on their radio stations, and they want to hear something different, but they're just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/people-don-t-like-the-music-that-s-out-now-that-s-on-their-radio/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [The key is for the audience never to know, so I have a plan B for every illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/the-key-is-for-the-audience-never-to-know-so-i-have-a-plan-b-for/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [“What do you need your audience to know or do? This is the point where you think through how to make what you communicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/what-do-you-need-your-audience-to-know-or-do-this-is-the-point-where/) [Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/) > [A playwright... is... the litmus paper of the arts. He's got to be, because if he isn't working on the same wave length as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/a-playwright-is-the-litmus-paper-of-the-arts-he-s-got-to-be-because/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [And I tell my audience, you know, give the real stars a round of applause. Because without them I'm nobody. So I learned so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-milton/and-i-tell-my-audience-you-know-give-the-real-stars-a-round-of/) [Little Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-milton/) ## More by Kurt Elling > [Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/man-i-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-a-jazz-musician-at-all-i-have-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a jazz moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-can-start-from-any-source-material-and-you-can-approach-it-with-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-don-t-really-have-a-more-intellectualized-approach-after-the-fact-i/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-think-my-intention-was-there-and-my-love-for-the-music-was-apparent/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-ve-worked-with-a-number-of-big-bands-but-there-s-nothing-in-life/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-the-commercial-world-wants-to-bank-in-on-the-cachet-that/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [The great jazz and jazz-influenced singers carry themselves with a certain panache and a certain elegance and, for lack of a better word, self-confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/the-great-jazz-and-jazz-influenced-singers-carry-themselves-with-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-work-very-hard-on-the-lyrics-getting-them-to-fit-the-contours-of/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [There's a wide spectrum of possibilities in how to deliver a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/there-s-a-wide-spectrum-of-possibilities-in-how-to-deliver-a-song/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-people-are-put-off-by-the-idea-of-scat-singing-either-that/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You want to be doing your best work whatever field of the arts you're in because your life's going to be over all too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-want-to-be-doing-your-best-work-whatever-field-of-the-arts-you-re/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Why limit yourself to one discipline or field of study?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/why-limit-yourself-to-one-discipline-or-field-of-study/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Sometimes, with vocalese, I'm dealing with something, a great solo from the past, which is so iconic I can't presume to change it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/sometimes-with-vocalese-i-m-dealing-with-something-a-great-solo-from/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I'm a guy who has more slapstick than Joe Cool moments in his day, so I'm not taking myself so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-m-a-guy-who-has-more-slapstick-than-joe-cool-moments-in-his-day-so/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) [Explore all 96 Kurt Elling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. 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And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“If you not yet try How to know you can or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sopharat/if-you-not-yet-try-how-to-know-you-can-or-not/) [Sopharat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sopharat/) > [I'm attracted to the garden, without a doubt, but I always try and image the wolf that's there, too. 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