First of all, I swore it was two people playing. When I finally admitted to myself that was one man, I gave up the piano for a month. I figured it was hopeless to practice.
Oscar PetersonRead
Too many jazz pianists limit themselves to a personal style, a trademark, so to speak. They confine themselves to one type of playing. I believe in using the entire piano as a single instrument capable of expressing every possible musical idea. I have no one style. I play as I feel.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of versatility in musical expression rather than adhering to a single style.
Oscar Peterson's quote highlights the limitations that many jazz pianists impose on themselves by sticking to a personal style or trademark. He advocates for a broader approach to music, suggesting that the piano should be utilized as a whole to convey the full range of musical ideas. By stating he has no one style and plays as he feels, Peterson champions artistic freedom and the exploration of diverse expressions in music.
In practice
In a music class discussing improvisation techniques.
First of all, I swore it was two people playing. When I finally admitted to myself that was one man, I gave up the piano for a month. I figured it was hopeless to practice.
Too many jazz pianists limit themselves to a personal style, a trademark, so to speak. They confine themselves to one type of playing.
I don't believe that a lot of the things I hear on the air today are going to be played for as long a time as Coleman Hawkins records or Brahms concertos.
It's the group sound that's important, even when you're playing a solo. You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That's jazz.
Montreal was a very active jazz center until club owners started putting in strippers instead of music. Before long, there was nothing to hear.
You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That's jazz.
To insist on purity is to baptize instinct, to humanize art, and to deify personality.
Monet is only an eye, but my God, what an eye!
My ego only needs a good rhythm section
Here let dead poetry rise once more to life.
Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.
Lots of people have criticized my movies, but nobody has ever identified the real problem: I'm a sloppy filmmaker.
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