--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jazz infers a style, but creative music…" description: "\"Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field and wider specification about it. We know it from people like Scott Joplin and on through Bes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/wadada-leo-smith-24902_creative_jazz-infers-a-style-but-creative-music-h_207146.jpg" --- # Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field… ![“Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field and wider specification about it. We know it from people like Scott Joplin and on through Bessie Smith.” quote by Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/wadada-leo-smith-24902_creative_jazz-infers-a-style-but-creative-music-h_207146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/wadada-leo-smith-24902_creative_jazz-infers-a-style-but-creative-music-h_207146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/wadada-leo-smith-24902_creative_jazz-infers-a-style-but-creative-music-h_207146.jpg) > “Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field and wider specification about it. We know it from people like Scott Joplin and on through Bessie Smith.” [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes jazz as a style while asserting that truly creative music transcends genre limits, drawing on historic innovators. **In simple terms:** Creative music goes beyond any single style. Key Takeaway Embrace broader musical possibilities. Themes music creativity genre innovation Mood thoughtful explorative Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - composition - education - performance - collaboration Key Concepts improvisation cultural synthesis musical evolution Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance tradition and innovation? - What defines a genre today? A Different Perspective Risk of diluting genre identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bessie-smith/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-music/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [Before I start, I create a set list that I listen to while I'm writing. For 'Intimate Apparel,' I loaded Erik Satie, Scott Joplin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/before-i-start-i-create-a-set-list-that-i-listen-to-while-i-m-writing/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I started composing when I was around 13, and back then, people used to say that I needed to be a composer or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-started-composing-when-i-was-around-13-and-back-then-people-used-to/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [My end goal in the piano is to play Scott Joplin's 'Maple Leaf Rag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-leek/my-end-goal-in-the-piano-is-to-play-scott-joplin-s-maple-leaf-rag/) [Miranda Leek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-leek/) > [“Germany was being run by a loudmouthed rabble-rouser, bent on baiting other nations to war and making life miserable for countless innocent citizens. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shattuck/germany-was-being-run-by-a-loudmouthed-rabble-rouser-bent-on-baiting/) [Jessica Shattuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shattuck/) > [“We do it because we care. We care that Vincent Van Gogh mutilated his ear. We care that behind a pile of manure in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/we-do-it-because-we-care-we-care-that-vincent-van-gogh-mutilated-his/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [In this country, particularly, actually in times that are difficult, or from corners of America where you least expect it, unbelievable pure creativity has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baz-luhrmann/in-this-country-particularly-actually-in-times-that-are-difficult-or/) [Baz Luhrmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baz-luhrmann/) > [Unbelievably, I was to have an encounter with Mel Smith when he came to my school to watch 'The Scott Joplin Revue' - my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/unbelievably-i-was-to-have-an-encounter-with-mel-smith-when-he-came/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [Most people have a passive relationship with music and clothes, with culture. But music was my first contact with anything creative. Music is it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/most-people-have-a-passive-relationship-with-music-and-clothes-with/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think that what I'm interested with is the creative side of music-making, rather than all the travelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giles/i-think-that-what-i-m-interested-with-is-the-creative-side-of-music/) [Michael Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giles/) > [It used to be that creative music was most of the music that you heard back in the '30s and '40s, and now it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-haden/it-used-to-be-that-creative-music-was-most-of-the-music-that-you/) [Charlie Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-haden/) > [For the most basic assumption that dictated my early attempts to respond to creative music commentary was the mistaken belief that western journalists had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-braxton/for-the-most-basic-assumption-that-dictated-my-early-attempts-to/) [Anthony Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-braxton/) > [... Nashville is such a fantastic city, with this great creative music energy. Then there's that Southern hospitality, you can't beat that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-palladio/nashville-is-such-a-fantastic-city-with-this-great-creative-music/) [Sam Palladio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-palladio/) > [The Indian music market is very film-oriented, and any other creative music venture doesn't receive enough support. I'd rather do singles and put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-ghoshal/the-indian-music-market-is-very-film-oriented-and-any-other-creative/) [Shreya Ghoshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-ghoshal/) > [I just try to play music from my heart and bring as much beauty as I can to as many people as I can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-haden/i-just-try-to-play-music-from-my-heart-and-bring-as-much-beauty-as-i/) [Charlie Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-haden/) > [If when you hear a song by OK Go you conjure up thoughts of a gigantic Rube Goldberg device or treadmills or drones or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-martin/if-when-you-hear-a-song-by-ok-go-you-conjure-up-thoughts-of-a/) [Rachel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-martin/) ## More by Wadada Leo Smith > [I have been in dialogue with my family about what can actually be done. We've come up with this philosophy that in a truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-have-been-in-dialogue-with-my-family-about-what-can-actually-be/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [I write all the time. I always have. I can pick up my horn to warm up, and an idea will pop into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-write-all-the-time-i-always-have-i-can-pick-up-my-horn-to-warm-up/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [I've got that Beethoven energy, that Stravinsky energy. And it's all a gift from the Creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-ve-got-that-beethoven-energy-that-stravinsky-energy-and-it-s-all-a/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [The only thing that makes change possible is the idea of developing some kind of institution, because the institutions will survive individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/the-only-thing-that-makes-change-possible-is-the-idea-of-developing/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [Everything and anything is valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/everything-and-anything-is-valuable/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [My solo playing utilizes the deployment of suggestive psychic rhythms. I'll state these throughout a given piece and play thematic improvisations on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/my-solo-playing-utilizes-the-deployment-of-suggestive-psychic-rhythms/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [I'm an optimist. I have always been, and I will continue to be. So I believe there's always a possibility of transforming or changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-m-an-optimist-i-have-always-been-and-i-will-continue-to-be-so-i/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [When you live in the South, you're constantly part of the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/when-you-live-in-the-south-you-re-constantly-part-of-the-civil-rights/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [There's nothing unnatural in creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/there-s-nothing-unnatural-in-creation/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [From now back to the past, we can observe clearly that none of us is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/from-now-back-to-the-past-we-can-observe-clearly-that-none-of-us-is/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [The artist is the consciousness of society... but musicians' role is very special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/the-artist-is-the-consciousness-of-society-but-musicians-role-is-very/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [I always felt of myself as a composer, performer, improviser. I've never called myself a jazz man. I make art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-always-felt-of-myself-as-a-composer-performer-improviser-i-ve-never/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [I think all art is, by nature, intended to motivate society for change, and the only reason change doesn't happen is because within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/i-think-all-art-is-by-nature-intended-to-motivate-society-for-change/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [Seeing the bigger picture opens your eyes to what is the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/seeing-the-bigger-picture-opens-your-eyes-to-what-is-the-truth/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) > [We have these old fashioned ideas. For instance, here in America, we talk about democracy - but we don't have a democracy. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/we-have-these-old-fashioned-ideas-for-instance-here-in-america-we/) [Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) [Explore all 23 Wadada Leo Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/) ## More Creative quotes > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [What Sri Chinmoy does is God-given! He has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/what-sri-chinmoy-does-is-god-given-he-has-a-tremendous-a-fantastic/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Teasing out the way the world might look through another's eyes is what makes the creative process so fascinating and enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/teasing-out-the-way-the-world-might-look-through-another-s-eyes-is/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) [Browse all 7,284 Creative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jazz infers a style, but creative music has a wider field and wider specification about it. 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