Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.
Steve LacyRead
A jazz musician is a combination orator, dialectician, mathematician, athlete, entertainer, poet, singer, dancer, diplomat, educator, student, comedian, artist, seducer, public masturbator, and general all-round good fellow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jazz musicians embody a diverse range of skills and talents, integrating various art forms into their craft.
Steve Lacy's quote highlights the multifaceted nature of jazz musicians, suggesting that their artistry transcends mere music. It portrays them as individuals who blend different disciplines—rhetoric, mathematics, performance, and humor—to create a unique and dynamic artistic expression that appeals to a wide audience.
Themes
JazzMusicArtCreativityExpressionPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
During a concert, one could quote this to emphasize the depth of musicianship involved in jazz.
More from Steve Lacy
All quotes →Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite. Saxophone can be tedious with too much of the same.
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