I came up with a ‘forecasting cell,’ which is basically a mixed intention cell or chord that is a complete hybrid of a consonance and a dissonance, and what that does when you are improvising is lead you to where you are supposed to go. Christian Scott Read Quote
At Mardi Gras, the different tribes will basically play war games, and so my brother is what you call a Flag Boy, which is more of less like a tribe’s diplomat. He carries the game’s standard and is really the line of where the game starts. Christian Scott Read Quote
I think a lot of musicians and artists are really one that really only have one trick. Christian Scott Read Quote
Man I mean, the great thing about playing clubs in Harlem is people have an appreciation not just for the music but for the history of the music. Christian Scott Read Quote
It doesn’t matter if I ever win another award or get to play another major jazz festival in America. I would rather not garner any of those things and speak honestly about the things that I see my people endure in this country and all over the world. Christian Scott Read Quote
Even if I have a good day, I still am aware of other people that are going through really hard, tumultuous things. I don’t want to be the person who has a platform and neglects the things I see in my life and experiences. Christian Scott Read Quote
I hate the natural sound of the trumpet, but I think I’m naturally set up to be a trumpet player. I know that sounds weird. But pretty much anytime I play a note, I’m uncomfortable in a general sense. Christian Scott Read Quote
It’s funny because as a composer, you want to hear your songs live on. I think a lot of times people will create a song and it becomes stagnant or something that they’re no longer interested in playing, and they leave it alone. Christian Scott Read Quote
I kind of prefer to be sort of ahead of the pack checking things out, priming the canvas, if you will, for the younger guys that are going to come up and try to make their own statements about what they feel and what they have to contribute. Christian Scott Read Quote
I live in New York, but I’m gone 310, 320 days a year. My apartment is storage. Christian Scott Read Quote
