The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I had to decide: was I unhappy with me? I liked it. If they didn’t like it, it was on them. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
I understand about the relative strengths of people, and I don’t think people have to be anything. They can be nothin’ if they want to be. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you’re really interested in it. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
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 Read Quote
I’ve always tried to be a poet more than anything else. I mean, professional musicians die. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
When you think about musicians who are reading music, my contention has always been the energy that you’re using deciphering what the symbol is is taking away from the maximum creative energy that you might have had if you understood that it’s but a symbol. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
One of the things Mother said to me, ‘You want this, you’re going to practice.’ And I know how to practice. Cecil Taylor Read Quote
