Author: Cecil Taylor

Quotes

I am not afraid of European influences. The point is to use them, as Ellington did, as part of my life as an American Negro.

I am not afraid of European influences. The point is to use them, as Ellington did, as part of my life as an American Negro.

- Cecil Taylor

They say, 'We will give you money, but we want you to play this or that.' And I always thought, 'If I'm going to do that, I might as well go back and be a dishwasher.'

They say, 'We will give you money, but we want you to play this or that.' And I always thought, 'If I'm going to do that, I might as well go back and be a dishwasher.'

- Cecil Taylor

If you take the creation of music and the creation of your own life values as your overall goal, then living becomes a musical process.

If you take the creation of music and the creation of your own life values as your overall goal, then living becomes a musical process.

- Cecil Taylor

Fats - very funny man, but every note that he played was like a pearl.

Fats - very funny man, but every note that he played was like a pearl.

- Cecil Taylor

When you play, when you perform, it might be for the last time, so you got to do it.

When you play, when you perform, it might be for the last time, so you got to do it.

- Cecil Taylor

Rhythm is the life of space of time danced through.

Rhythm is the life of space of time danced through.

- Cecil Taylor

You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it.

You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it.

- Cecil Taylor

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