It's important to address young people in the reopening of New Orleans. In rebuilding, let's revisit the potential of American democracy and American glory. Wynton Marsalis More Quotes by Wynton Marsalis More Quotes From Wynton Marsalis The arts speak across epochs. If you think that people started to build a cathedral in 1315 and the people worked on that cathedral, it wasn't going to be finished until 1585. So they were thinking 200 years from now. Maybe by the time I die, this wall might be put up. Wynton Marsalis wall art thinking Flexibility is an essential part of Jazz. It's what gives Jazz music the ability to combine with all other types of music and not lose its identity. Wynton Marsalis essentials identity giving I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some Tabasco sauce, some ketchup, some mayonnaise. I love all of that. Put it on a trumpet. I've just got to have the ketchup and Tabasco sauce. That's my attitude about musical philosophy. Wynton Marsalis writing attitude philosophy I had to figure out how to survive in New York, and most of my time was occupied in getting an apartment and getting money. A lot of older jazz guys looked out for me and found me gigs and places to stay. Wynton Marsalis gigs guy new-york My schedule is always tight. But I like to have the pressure of having to finish doing something; it gives me an added edge. Wynton Marsalis schedules pressure giving I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for my opinions to join all the other opinions. But you have to be prepared for what comes back, especially if you don't agree with the dominant mythology. Wynton Marsalis others-opinions strong giving Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something. Wynton Marsalis fighting squares player In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry about whether it's contemporary or not. Wynton Marsalis lincoln-center diversity play I try to find the core values that are so fundamental that they transcend ethnic identity. That doesn't mean I run from it. I embrace African-American culture and I love it and embrace it, but it is a part of a human identity. So I'm always trying to make a larger human statement. Wynton Marsalis always-trying running mean I think that the blues is in everything, so it's not possible to neglect it. You hear somebody go 'Ooh ooh oooh,' and that's the blues. You hear a rock n' roll song. That's the blues. Somebody playing a guitar solo? They're playing the blues. Wynton Marsalis rocks song thinking Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to understand where and who you are. Wynton Marsalis space attitude giving He [Benny Carter] is all that every jazz musician the world over wants to be. He's performed 20,000 nights. How many shoes have been shined? How much mascara put on? Rouge? How many of those impossible bowties have been tied? How many love songs have been sung? How many dances have been danced? How many have passed to the sound of his music? It's been said that a man should not be forced to live up to his art. Benny Carter is one of the rare instances when we wonder whether the great art that a man has created can live up to him. Wynton Marsalis song night art If you looked around, you'd be glad you couldn't see. Wynton Marsalis ifs glad Those who play for applause....Tha t’s all they get. Wynton Marsalis applause play There is an idea that a mind is wasted on the arts unless it makes you good in math or science. There is some evidence that the arts might help you in math and science. Wynton Marsalis math ideas art When I auditioned for my high school band the band director was excited because my father was known to be a great musician. When he heard me, he said 'Are you sure you're Ellis's son?' Wynton Marsalis father school son The only justification for looking down on anyone is that you're going to stop and pick them up. Wynton Marsalis looking-down justification picks No particular music makes me feel nostalgic. If it's great, it just keeps me in the present moment. That level of music is like a classic story, like the Iliad-something so perfect it can never be old. Wynton Marsalis music stories perfect When I first came to New York everybody on the scene would treat me like I could play but I couldn't. Wynton Marsalis new-york play firsts What I really have in my head, my imagination, my understanding of music, I never really get that out. Wynton Marsalis my-imagination understanding imagination
