1 de janeiro de 2009

Miles Davis no 60 minutes

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Miles Davis no Coliseu de Lisboa. Foto de João Freire

No ano da sua segunda actuação em Portugal, em 1989, Miles Davis foi entrevistado pelo jornalismo de excelência da CBS e do programa 60 Minutes.

É precisamente esse programa, agora que passam 20 anos, que propomos hoje.





E, a propósito de Miles, aqui ficam algumas das suas frases mais emblemáticas.

“It's always been a gift with me, hearing music the way I do. I don't know where it comes from, it's just there and I don't question it.”

"For me, music and life are all about style."

"I've changed music four or five times. What have you done of any importance other than be white?"
Davis attended a reception in honor of Ray Charles at Ronald Reagan's White House in 1987. This was his reply to a Washington society lady seated next to him who had asked him what he had done to be invited.

"The music has gotten thick. Guys give me tunes and they're full of chords. I can't play them...I think a movement in jazz is beginning away from the conventional string of chords, and a return to emphasis on melodic rather than harmonic variation. There will be fewer chords but infinite possibilities as to what to do with them".
About the new modal style. Interviewed by The Jazz Review, 1958.

"If somebody told me I only had an hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow."
During an interview, after growing aggravated about questions on the subject of race.

"A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it."
On being called a legend.

"Jazz is like blues with a shot of heroin"

"Who's that motherfucker? He can't play shit!"

on Cecil Taylor

"You a motherfucker."
a compliment to Chick Corea, who thought he was about to be fired.

"He plays like somebody is standing on his foot."
on Eric Dolphy

"He could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll."
on Prince

"Why'd you put that white bitch on there?"
To George Avakian after seeing the cover chosen by Columbia for Miles Ahead.

"You can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played."
on Louis Armstrong

"I’ll play it and tell you what it is later."
During a recording session for Prestige, on the album "Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet" (1956).

"Listen baby, when I say later, I mean it! Later!"
After being approached by a relentless interviewer.

"There are no wrong notes."

"My ego only needs a good rhythm section." On being asked what he looked for in musicians.

"When you are creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain't the limit."

"Try taking the fucking horn out of your mouth."

Davis was questioning the increasing length of John Coltrane solos, and Trane answered "I don't know how to stop."

"It's that goddamned motherfucking 'Machine Gun.'"
Davis' response when questioned on what he heard in the music of Jimi Hendrix.

"Don't play what's there, play what's not there."

2 Comments:

At quinta jan. 01, 07:32:00 da tarde 2009, Blogger zimk said...

Obrigado pelo post. Foi muito bom relembrar Miles.

"For me, knowledge is happiness"

"I learned something last night. Can't wait to aplly"

Miles Davis in 60 minutes

Bom 2009

 
At quinta jan. 01, 09:54:00 da tarde 2009, Blogger JMS said...

Obrigado pela visita.

Votos de um Feliz 2009.

 

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