Carla Bley quotes

Carla Bley was an influential American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader known for her innovative approach to music. Her works blended elements of jazz, rock, and avant-garde, reshaping the landscape of modern jazz. She contributed significantly to the development of jazz ensembles and left a lasting impact on contemporary music. Here are 16 of her quotes:

I like chords that are very lush with all the lush parts taken out. (Carla Bley)
I don't think you can ever regain your ignorance. View quote
Carla Bley
I got started when I was 3 years old because my father was a music teacher and my lessons were free. Instead of learning to walk, you learn to play the piano. View quote
Carla Bley
Living composers writing for big band are very few and far between. There are not a lot of them, and I have a talent for doing it. I am zeroing in on what I do best. View quote
Carla Bley
I don't enjoy traveling in America. I don't like the food, the cars. It is not exotic enough. It all tastes a bit like airline food. View quote
Carla Bley
When you are studying jazz, the best thing to do is listen to records or listen to live music. It isn't as though you go to a teacher. You just listen as much as you can and absorb everything. View quote
Carla Bley
Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker seemed so sophisticated and bad. I wanted to be like that. View quote
Carla Bley
Listening is more important than anything else because that's what music is. Somebody is playing something and you're receiving it. It is sending and receiving. View quote
Carla Bley
When Ronald Reagan was elected I was on a bus traveling with a band in France. I wrote a little arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner in a minor key. View quote
Carla Bley
When you have 13 horns, and one is soloing, you have 12 people to play the richest, fullest chord you could ever imagine behind that solo. View quote
Carla Bley
It would be really hard to get serious about anything political today unless it was a joke. (Carla Bley)
There are times when what's happening in rock is the best music in the world, and there are times when there is nothing worthwhile at all. View quote
Carla Bley
I don't need much coaxing. View quote
Carla Bley
I just got to hear every note. After I left Birdland, I started working at the Jazz Gallery. In the end, I still couldn't play, but I knew how to listen. I was probably the world's best listener. View quote
Carla Bley
I still prefer the bebop of the '40s. The very stuff I started out with is still the best to me. I have come full circle. View quote
Carla Bley
One performer whose band played my music better than I could myself was Art Farmer. He recorded 'Sing Me Softly of the Blues' and 'Ad Infinitum'. View quote
Carla Bley

Carla Bley

Carla Bley - Image
Photo: Dietmar Liste - http://www.jazzimage.de, CC BY 3.0
Occupation: American Musician
Born: May 11, 1936
Died: October 17, 2023
Quotes count: 16

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