When you're at a concert and you hear someone improvise well, that's special; it puts you in the moment and takes you someplace. To pull that off, a musician must be able to play his or her instrument really well, but more importantly must also be able to express something and take the listeners beyond themselves.
Interpretation
Impressive musicianship allows artists to connect deeply with their audience.
In this quote, John Popper emphasizes the unique experience of live music, especially when a musician improvises skillfully. He suggests that such moments transcend mere technical ability; they require a deep emotional expression that can transport the audience and create a meaningful connection between the artist and the listeners.
In practice
Sharing this quote during a music workshop to highlight the importance of emotional connection in performance.
My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which is very disciplined and structured coupled with a state of mind, and you can have either of those things but it's the two together that make it what it is. And you need to be a student for one, and a human being for the other, but those things alone don't do it.
It (jazz) isn't like it used to be. The guys aren't together. They're all separated. Individuals now. Bird was a symbol. It was a clique, a clique of people. Who all believed in one thing: gettin' high. And playin'.
To me, a great drummer isn't always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part of a great band.
I wasn't a jazz player, but a classical musician, and I improvised arrangements of popular songs using classical motifs.
Let's face it. Rock and Roll is bigger than all of us
There are people these days who can do things on the guitar which are beyond my reach. There's one guy who plays with Queen who can do things I would dream of doing. I sincerely mean that.
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