37 Quotes by Cecil Taylor

Improvisation is the ability to talk to oneself.

Rhythm is the life of space of time danced through.

In short, [Coltrane's] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the means that a man uses to say something from what he ultimately says. Technique is not separated from its content in a great artist.

Doesn't that fool know I recorded that song because I like it?

To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.

See I'm not interested in appealing to the larger masses of people, because what the White man shows us is that he will do anything to make money.

Doesn’t that fool know I recorded that song because I like it?

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

Sometimes when it goes really well, you wonder, who’s that at the piano?