Music isn't about music, it's about life.
Herbie HancockRead
So much of what I create has been due to the influence of Miles Davis and Donald Byrd, and so many of those that have passed on. Their music, their legacy lives on with the rest of us because we are so highly influenced by their experience and what they have given us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the enduring impact of influential artists on contemporary creators.
Herbie Hancock reflects on the profound influence that jazz musicians Miles Davis and Donald Byrd, along with other artists who have passed away, have had on his own creative work. He emphasizes that their music and legacy continue to enrich and inspire the lives of those who follow them, demonstrating the timeless nature of artistic expression and the interconnectedness of artists across generations.
Themes
InfluenceLegacyMusicArtCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a music education conference, one might use this quote to discuss the importance of learning from past artists.
More from Herbie Hancock
All quotes →I don't mind being classified as a jazz artist, but I do mind being restricted to being a jazz artist. My foundation has been in jazz, though I didn't really start out that way. I started in classical music, but my formative years were in jazz, and it makes a great foundation.
Herbie HancockRead
In World War II, jazz absolutely was the music of freedom, and then in the Cold War, behind the Iron Curtain, same thing. It was all underground, but they needed the food of freedom that jazz offered.
Herbie HancockRead
I think people have learned that Herbie Hancock can be defined as someone that you won't be able to figure out what he's going to do next. The sky is the limit as far as I'm concerned.
Herbie HancockRead
One thing that sticks in my mind is that jazz means freedom and openness. It's a music that, although it developed out of the African American experience, speaks more about the human experience than the experience of a particular people.
Herbie HancockRead
I started off with classical music, and I got into jazz when I was about 14 years old. And I've been playing jazz ever since.
Herbie HancockRead
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