Zitat des Tages von Herbie Hancock:
The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique.
Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.
When the suggestion was made that I might consider doing music of Joni Mitchell, I thought it was a fantastic idea. Joni, I admire not only for her music but for her person, because she's a person that really stands out for what she believes in.
It is people's hearts that move the age.
It's part of my nature. I get excited when trying out new stuff, whether it be an idea or equipment. It stimulates my juices.
I try stuff. I synthesize what's of value with some of the other things I have at my disposal.
I got a chance to work with Miles Davis, and that changed everything for me, 'cause Miles really encouraged all his musicians to reach beyond what they know, go into unknown territory and explore. It's made a difference to me and the decisions that I've made over the years about how to approach a project in this music.
Hip-hop is all over the planet.
The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness.
It's not the style that motivates me, as much as an attitude of openness that I have when I go into a project.
But, the truth is that everyone is somebody already.
Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.
In the past, there's always been one leader that has led the pack to development of the music.
The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away from that, the solidity that you need in order to be able to stand up for what you believe in and deliver what's really inside, it's just not going to be there.
Jazz is about being in the moment.
You can practice to learn a technique, but I'm more interested in conceiving of something in the moment.
I feel a lot more secure about the directions I take, than I might have, had I not practiced Buddhism.
Without wisdom, the future has no meaning, no valuable purpose.
It pulled me like a magnet, jazz did, because it was a way that I could express myself.
Music is the tool to express life - and all that makes a difference.
Since time is a continuum, the moment is always different, so the music is always different.
It's not exclusive, but inclusive, which is the whole spirit of jazz.
You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.
Each human being exists because there's something they have to offer for the evolution of the universe that only they can fulfill.
The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way.
The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.
But I have to be careful not to let the world dazzle me so much that I forget that I'm a husband and a father.
I'm always interested in looking forward toward the future. Carving out new ways of looking at things.
One of the most important functions of jazz has been to encourage a hope for freedom, for people living in situations of intolerance or struggle.
I like the idea of an eclectic approach, incorporating jazz with other forms and other genres of music.
Being a musician is what I do, but it's not what I am.
Jazz has borrowed from other genres of music and also has lent itself to other genres of music.
You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.
I don't view myself as a musician anymore - I view myself as a human being that functions as a musician when I'm functioning as a musician, but that's not 24 hours a day. That's really opened me up to even more perspectives because now I look at music, not from the standpoint of being a musician, but from the standpoint of being a human being.
I've been curious ever since I was a little kid.
The music becomes something that is its own entity.