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Ornette Coleman Quotes

Powerful Ornette Coleman for Daily Growth

About Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman (March 19, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was a groundbreaking American jazz saxophonist, composer, and theorist whose innovative contributions to music redefined the boundaries of jazz and avant-garde genres. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Coleman's early life was marked by poverty and hardship. At age 14, he left home to pursue a musical career, playing tenor saxophone in various bands across the South. Influenced by Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Coleman Hawkins, Coleman developed his unique sound through self-taught methods and experimentation. His breakthrough came in 1958 with the release of "The Shape of Jazz to Come," an album that showcased his free jazz approach and revolutionary harmonic concepts. This work, along with subsequent releases like "Free Jazz" (1960) and "Science Fiction" (1971), profoundly impacted the evolution of modern jazz, introducing complex melodies, atonality, and collective improvisation. Coleman's innovative ideas extended beyond music. He developed a theory known as Harmolodics, which emphasized the interplay between melody, harmony, and rhythm in a way that allowed greater freedom for musicians to express themselves within a group context. This approach was on full display with his groundbreaking quartet featuring trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Ed Blackwell. Throughout his illustrious career, Coleman won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2007 for "Skin of My Teeth," and a MacArthur Fellowship in 1994. His influence transcended jazz, inspiring generations of musicians across various genres, from rock to hip-hop. Ornette Coleman's pioneering spirit and indomitable creative force continue to resonate profoundly in contemporary music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

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

Ornette Coleman's quote encourages musicians to explore the gaps, silences, and unwritten spaces in music, rather than strictly adhering to existing melodies or harmonies. This interpretation promotes creativity and individuality as artists strive to bring something new and unexpected to their compositions by focusing on what is missing or implied instead of solely replicating what already exists.

"The music is in me, if I can find a way out of it."

Ornette Coleman's quote suggests that his creative musical genius lies within him (the "music is in me"). However, realizing and expressing this inner talent requires effort and discovery ("if I can find a way out of it"). In other words, the challenge for Coleman was to bring forth his unique, internal musical vision and share it with the world.

"I don't make mistakes. I make musical discoveries."

This quote by Ornette Coleman underscores his unique approach to music creation, emphasizing that every note he plays is intentional, even if it may not always fit conventional musical structures. Rather than viewing "mistakes" as errors or missteps, he considers them as opportunities for discovery and innovation within the context of his creative process. This mindset encourages experimentation, pushing boundaries, and embracing new sonic possibilities.

"If you start with the question, you end up with an answer. If you start with the answer, you end up with a better question."

This quote by Ornette Coleman encourages a curiosity-driven approach to life and problem-solving. It suggests that starting with a question (open-minded exploration) leads to an answer, but it may not be the most optimal or comprehensive solution. On the other hand, if you start with an assumed answer (preconceived notion), you might end up asking a better question – one that is more thoughtful, probing, and capable of leading to a deeper understanding or more effective resolution. In essence, Coleman's quote underscores the importance of questioning assumptions and approaching problems with an open mind for continuous growth and improvement.

"A musician is not just a musician anymore, he has to be everything – poet, painter, social leader."

Ornette Coleman's statement suggests that the role of a musician has evolved beyond just creating music. In today's world, musicians are expected to wear multiple hats: not only creating art through their music but also becoming poets by conveying emotions and stories, painters by using sound to create visions, and social leaders by influencing culture and society through their work. This holistic perspective underlines the multifaceted nature of artistic expression in contemporary society.

Even when you write it, someone's got to play it. So if you can play it and bypass all the rest of the things, you're still doing as great as someone that has spent forty years trying to find out how to do that. I'm really pro-human beings, pro-expression of everything.

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Doing, Got, Forty Years

It's just someone has labelled us as having a different label to do what you do. I find that labels are the worst thing in the world for artistic expression.

- Ornette Coleman

Worst Thing, Having, Label

You've got to realize. In the western world, regardless of what color you are, what title the music is, it's all played by the same notes.

- Ornette Coleman

Color, Title, Notes, Western World

It seems to me that in the western world, culture has something to do with appearance. A person that's out creating good stuff has got to appreciate someone when they take the time to have an appearance that goes with what they're doing.

- Ornette Coleman

Good, Doing, Goes, Western World

To me, human existence exists on a multiple level, not just on a two-dimensional level, not just having to be identified with what you do and what you say.

- Ornette Coleman

Existence, Level, Having, Identified

I remember once, we got an interview, and he said, 'Dad, these people are writing about me like I'm an adult. Don't they know I'm a kid?' I have never tried to encourage him to get a music image like other musicians have.

- Ornette Coleman

I Remember, Other, Dad, Interview

No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't know the words he's saying, but he knows where to fit them to make what he's thinking logical to what you're saying.

- Ornette Coleman

Thinking, Kid, Fit, Conversation

I had a really good time in New Orleans, although I had some very tragic times in Baton Rouge. Some guys beat me up and threw my horn away. 'Cause I had a beard, then, and long hair like the Beatles.

- Ornette Coleman

Some, Away, Very, Baton

I've been playing with Blackwell over 20 years. We used to play when I first went to Los Angeles. Blackwell plays the drums as if he's playing a wind instrument. Actually, he sounds more like a talking drum.

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Drum, Been, Wind

That's what I was trying to say when we were talking about sound. I think that every person, whether they play music or don't play music, has a sound - their own sound, that thing that you're talking about.

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Think, I Think, Play Music

I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots of other things. I like to cure all kinds of illness.

- Ornette Coleman

Doing, Think, Other, Just Something

It just makes that person feel that what his work is is going to be more valid. But who wants to see a guy standing in front, looking like a bum, doing something that a bums don't do? This don't make sense.

- Ornette Coleman

Doing, Feel, Guy, Bums

I'm having this conversation with you now. I'm talking, but I'm thinking, feeling, smelling, and moving. Yet I'm concentrating on what you're saying. So that means there's more things going on in the body than just the present thing that the person's got you doing.

- Ornette Coleman

Body, Doing, Concentrating, Conversation

I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she died from? From worrying about the mental patients not being able to get their food. She became a mental patient.

- Ornette Coleman

I Remember, Became, Gotten, Nurse

Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh man, what is that! That must be fantastic!'

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Elementary School, Saw, Solo

All the things that human beings suffer from are how their environment treats them, and how the elements of their planet affects their mind and body - like radiation, cancer, and all.

- Ornette Coleman

Mind, Like, Planet, Radiation

I asked my mother could I have an instrument. She said, 'Well if you go out and save your money.' So I went and got - I made me a shine box. I went out and started shining shoes, and I'd bring whatever I made.

- Ornette Coleman

Bring, Save, Instrument, Shining

Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always had a personal relationship with someone in the company.

- Ornette Coleman

Business, Always, Been, Legitimate

I've had those people very interested in my writing. Since I think of myself as a composer, I feel really good. I've had lots of guys call me up. I've gotten two or three commissions to write things. I've written lots of movie scores.

- Ornette Coleman

I Think, Very, Gotten, Guys

You don't have to worry about being a number one, number two, or number three. Numbers don't have anything to do with placement. Numbers only have something to do with repetition.

- Ornette Coleman

Worry, Numbers, About, Repetition

I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.

- Ornette Coleman

Think, Sound, I Think, Elements

Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I always tell people, 'I think of myself as a composer.'

- Ornette Coleman

Think, Always, I Think, Composer

After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I had to end up playing them myself. And that's how I ended up just being a saxophone player.

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Texas, Had, Saxophone

Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time.

- Ornette Coleman

Jazz, Note, Which, Played

I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they would get fired, and I'd be left with the record company. And then - because they got fired - the record company wouldn't do anything for me.

- Ornette Coleman

Got, Had, Liked, Record Company

So, for instance, if you came to me, I'd ask, 'Do you want to write? Do you want to improvise? Why do you want to play this instrument? What do you want to do?'

- Ornette Coleman

Play, Want, Instance, Improvise

If you decide you want to be treated good, and you treat someone else good, or you want to learn something, it's information. It's getting the right, good information.

- Ornette Coleman

Treat, Learn, Treated, Decide

I mean, if you decided to go out today and get you an instrument and do whatever it is that you do, no one can tell you how you're going to do it but when you do it.

- Ornette Coleman

Go, Tell, Going, Instrument

Actually, I have another record I made with them in 1976, but I've had such a bad experience with record companies, because I keep my head so much in music and not in business.

- Ornette Coleman

Business, Bad, Made, Record Companies

I don't know what they're thinking about. Just because someone says, 'I like what you do' or something: They might like it today and tomorrow they might not. I've had that experience with record companies.

- Ornette Coleman

Like, Might, About, Record Companies

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