To me, a song is not finished. To me, there's no such thing as a finished anything. All of Beethoven's nine symphonies, to me, are one. I think of it as having no beginning and no end.
Wayne ShorterRead
Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz' means, 'I dare you.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jazz is about freedom and personal expression, not strict rules.
Wayne Shorter's quote emphasizes the essence of jazz as an art form that thrives on spontaneity, creativity, and individuality. He asserts that jazz should not be confined by mandates or expectations, but rather, it should encourage boldness and daring in musical expression, inviting musicians to explore their unique interpretations and styles without fear of conforming to traditional definitions.
Themes
JazzMusicFreedomExpressionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
An artist could use this quote to inspire fellow musicians at a jam session.
More from Wayne Shorter
All quotes βWhen they say 'jazz,' I'm thinking of a word called 'the creative process.' It intersects every vein and tributary, avenue, path, that everyone's living. It crosses through there, but it's been contained.
Wayne ShorterRead
There's a steady forward march of a creative process that some of us stay with and don't give up - that should be an admirable thing - from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker to Miles to Ornette and some people who are not even known today - some kids coming up - people who are out to change the world.
Wayne ShorterRead
The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this kind of risk, and courage is what we all need to create a better world.
Wayne ShorterRead
I think that music opens portals and doorways into unknown sectors that it takes courage to leap into. I always think that there's a potential that we all have, and we can emerge, rise up to this potential, when necessary. We have to be fearless, courageous, and draw upon wisdom that we think we don't have.
Wayne ShorterRead
Movies would be like a broad painted canvas... or a mystical process which cannot really be explained, like, 'What is electricity?' Along with the images that go on the screen, there's a corridor of dialogue that can happen through motion pictures, whether you're aware of it or not.
Wayne ShorterRead
Similar quotes
Do not write if there is no tremendous urge to do so. At the heart, there must be an inspiration or muse or one of those old-fashioned things. Else, why bore yourself, destroy other people's interest and kill trees?
Vikram SethRead
I think I write in order to discover on my shelf a new book that I would enjoy reading, or to see a new play that would engross me.
Thornton WilderRead
I do a first draft as passionately and as quickly as I can. I believe a story is valid only when it's immediate and passionate, when it dances out of your subconscious. If you interfere in any way, you destroy it.
Ray BradburyRead
When someone picks up one of my songs and records it, I'm a flattered man, it's a blessing to me
Smokey RobinsonRead
In the modern world, all literary art is necessarily political -- especially that which pretends not to be.
Edward AbbeyRead
The job of the writer is to look at where he is now and make some sort of emotional sense of it, not only for that moment but for years to come.
Colum MccannRead