Believe Quote by Sonny Sharrock
“I believe in knowing all you can about the music and the people who made the music. I think it's much more important to know some good Miles Davis stories than to know how to play like Miles. I think you'll play better if you know some of the funny things he did than if you know the licks that he played.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Jazz Musicians on Influence, 1970s
Understanding a musician's life and personality deepens artistic interpretation more than technical imitation alone.
In simple terms: Knowing stories improves playing more than copying licks.
Key Takeaway
Study artists' lives for richer performance.
Themes
music
creativity
interpretation
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- music education
- performance preparation
- songwriting
- teaching
- personal growth
Key Concepts
biography
empathy
context
Questions to Reflect On
- How can personal anecdotes shape your musical expression?
- What stories inspire you most?
A Different Perspective
Technical skill alone may not capture emotional depth.
![“[Miles Davis] learned from everyone. He was incredible. He took the best from everyone and threw away the rest. He was brilliant. One of the things he told me he loved about my voice was how I used space-both in music and between my voice and the mike.” quote by Helen Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d14/helen-merrill-83326_brilliant_miles-davis-learned-from-everyone-he-was_3158989.jpg)
![“I used to try to play like [Miles Davis], and Miles caught me copying him one night at Birdland. He said, 'Hey man, why don't you play some of your own stuff.' So, I finally did, because I had copied all his solos.” quote by Freddie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d23/freddie-hubbard-25585_caught_i-used-to-try-to-play-like-miles-davis-a_232770.jpg)
