Marian Mcpartland Quotes

Powerful Marian Mcpartland for Daily Growth

About Marian Mcpartland

Marian McPartland (née Moore), OBE (October 18, 1918 – August 20, 2013) was a British-American jazz pianist, composer, and broadcaster who made significant contributions to the world of jazz music. Born in Windsor, England as Dame Marian McPartland Moore, she began playing piano at an early age and developed a passion for jazz after hearing Duke Ellington on the radio during World War II. In 1942, McPartland moved to New York City to pursue her musical career. She quickly became an integral part of the New York jazz scene, performing with many notable musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. In 1948, she married Jimmy McPartland, a prominent cornet player, which led to collaborations with his band, the Casa Loma Orchestra. One of McPartland's most significant accomplishments was her long-running Piano Jazz radio program on National Public Radio (NPR), which ran from 1978 until her retirement in 2004. The show featured interviews and duets with some of the greatest jazz artists of all time, including Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. As a composer, McPartland wrote over 600 compositions, many of which have become jazz standards. Some notable examples include "Marian's Mood," "Half a Sixpence," and "Vancouver." Her versatility as a musician earned her multiple awards throughout her career, including nine Grammy nominations and an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1980. McPartland was known for her warm personality, quick wit, and deep knowledge of jazz music. She continued performing and recording until her death at the age of 94. Her legacy as a performer, educator, and advocate for jazz music continues to inspire musicians around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Jazz is a spirit. Dancers, painters, poets... catch this spirit and express it in their own way."

This quote suggests that jazz, as a genre, embodies an intangible yet powerful essence or "spirit" – a vibrant, creative energy that transcends its musical form. This spirit is not exclusive to musicians; artists of other disciplines like dance, visual arts, and poetry can also tap into this same spirit and express it in their unique ways, thus infusing their work with the passion, improvisation, and innovation inherent in jazz music. In essence, Marian McPartland's quote emphasizes the universality and transformative power of jazz, as a spirit that transcends boundaries and inspires diverse artistic expressions.


"Improvisation is music in its rawest form."

This quote by Marian McPartland suggests that improvisation, within the context of music, represents a pure or unadulterated expression. It implies that when musicians improvise, they are creating music that is spontaneous, authentic, and untainted, mirroring the raw essence of their creativity and emotion. In essence, improvisation embodies the freedom, originality, and organic nature of music at its core.


"The beauty of improvisation is that you're free to do anything you want."

This quote suggests that improvisation, as a creative process, offers an environment where one can express themselves without restraints or limitations. It encourages freedom, spontaneity, and the ability to explore new ideas freely, as there is no fixed structure or predefined path to follow. It's about embracing the unknown and using one's skills and imagination to create something unique in the moment. This idea can be applied not only to music, as Marian McPartland was a jazz pianist, but also to other art forms like writing, acting, painting, or problem-solving, promoting creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks.


"I think everyone has the jazz within them. It just needs to be released."

This quote suggests that the inherent creativity, spontaneity, and emotional depth often associated with Jazz music exist within every individual. It implies that while some may choose to express this creativity through the medium of Jazz, it is a universal human trait that can manifest in many different ways depending on each person's unique experiences and talents. The quote encourages everyone to find and release their own inner potential for self-expression, innovation, and emotional connection - essentially, their personal "jazz".


"Music is the space between the notes."

This quote by Marian McPartland emphasizes that music isn't just about the played notes, but also the gaps or pauses in between them. It suggests that these silent moments carry as much weight and emotion as the notes themselves. The spaces serve to define the melody's rhythm and mood, making them essential parts of musical expression. Thus, the "space between the notes" implies the importance of pauses, silence, and rest in music, and highlights the role they play in creating a unique and profound musical experience.


The house is in turmoil with records on every space. In the kitchen and in the dining room is covered with records. I don't have a big enough house to accommodate everything.

- Marian McPartland

Big, Dining, Records, Turmoil

At the risk of being a fuddy-duddy I don't have a computer; I don't have e-mail; and I really don't need something in my house that I would be sitting in front of for hours.

- Marian McPartland

Need, Hours, Being, E-Mail

So I have a friend who works for me once a week. She's got e-mail, so anybody that must send an e-mail, they send it to her and she faxes it to me. Sounds like a long way of doing things, but it works for me.

- Marian McPartland

Doing, Week, Works, E-Mail

I would really hate to have e-mail. It's bad enough with all the mail I get.

- Marian McPartland

Bad, Mail, Would, E-Mail

My hands look terrible but I can do anything I want to do, so, you know, I just think I'm playing all around with more good taste and not dashing up and down the piano.

- Marian McPartland

Hands, Taste, Around, Up And Down

I'm not too fond of changing things into waltzes, but sometimes that works.

- Marian McPartland

Sometimes, Works, Too, Fond

I love to play in the different keys like B or F sharp, or keys that most people don't play in, because they have a better resonance or something. I'm really not fond of F and C. I just stay away from those if I can.

- Marian McPartland

Love, Play, Away, Fond

As long as I can still be on my own and do my own thing and be working full time, it's great.

- Marian McPartland

Own, My Own, Still, Full Time

Baldwin is sort of getting to be a bit funny. I don't know what happened, but a few years ago they suddenly went bankrupt and Gibson bought the whole outfit. Since then they haven't seemed to be doing an awfully good job of providing pianos.

- Marian McPartland

Doing, Providing, Whole, Pianos

I'm trying to get the record that I made at my birthday party last year, trying to get that out, and the lawyers are diddling around with it and it probably won't be out until next year. I don't know.

- Marian McPartland

Birthday, Lawyers, Next, Next Year

That's something Mary Lou Williams used to tell me: If you're not feeling right about what you're doing and you play a minor tune it all comes back, falls into place. I don't know if that's true, but I do it.

- Marian McPartland

Play, Doing, Minor, Williams

By the way, I got a Grammy, which was a big thrill.

- Marian McPartland

Big, Thrill, Which, Grammy

I have a West Coast rhythm section and a New York rhythm section. I've got them spread out all over the place.

- Marian McPartland

New, West Coast, Over, Rhythm Section

Although I do feel that with a show like ours we ourselves are getting a lot more young listeners at concerts.

- Marian McPartland

Young, More, Like, Listeners

Well it's because the record companies are pumping away with their commercial stuff. I think it's a shame.

- Marian McPartland

Think, Shame, Commercial, Pumping

Nowadays it seems to me nobody takes trouble about anything, especially writing songs.

- Marian McPartland

Writing, Me, Songs, Nowadays

Boy, I'm just quietly doing my thing, and I hope they'll look around and get my record out.

- Marian McPartland

Hope, Doing, Boy, Quietly

I need to get up and walk around and keep my knees from getting bad, which is what's happening.

- Marian McPartland

Bad, Need, Which, Knees

It's awful to have to, but I've started thinking about that, you know. 86. I'm thinking, well, maybe I might make it to 90. At least I'd like to have my brains.

- Marian McPartland

Like, Maybe, Might, Brains

So if I think of something in my head I don't have to do it. If I can't do I don't do it, I do something else.

- Marian McPartland

Think, Head, I Think, Something Else

I like minor tunes.

- Marian McPartland

Like, Tunes, Minor

There are a million good tunes.

- Marian McPartland

Good, Million, Tunes

I'd just as soon be on a good Steinway or Yamaha just as well.

- Marian McPartland

Good, Well, Just, Yamaha

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