Matthew Shipp Quotes

His name, even, is part of the marketing scheme, I mean, Thelonious Sphere Monk - how can you think of a better name to fit his style of playing?

I sounded like myself. People be saying I sound like Miles or Clifford Brown.

When I came out of the conservatory, the first thing I did was to go see Thelonious Monk.

I knew Charlie Parker, and he gave us such a gift with his music. He put so much into so little space, and it was tragic that he died so young.

I love guys like Charlie Parker.

I think John Coltrane is one of the great American heroes, like Abraham Lincoln and Emily Dickinson.

Miles Davis was a part of my life from 1947 on. I was born in 1941 and I first heard him in 1947 on a 78 rpm. And then I followed his career, starting with his first solo album in 1951. He was an icon and inspiration and a mentor to me.

Miles Davis is a major influence of mine in terms of the way that I am as a bandleader.

The first jazz pianist I heard was Thelonious Monk. My father was listening to an album of his called 'Monk's Dream' almost every day from the time I was born.

And Lennie Tristano I like a lot, I still like him.

Charlie Parker was a genius, as was Lester Young.

Listen to John Coltrane. When he plays 'A Love Supreme,' that guy is totally into himself.

Rock & roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.

I just really liked those trumpets and horns - Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie - and I honed in on that. I always looked for those big horn lines.

All John Coltrane's records are amazing.

I like Thelonious Monk, he's so gnarled, he's like a piece of machinery that's pulled up the bolts on the floor and gone off on its own.

I was interested in Armstrong to begin with because he is the most important figure in Jazz in the 20th Century. There's simply no question about it. I mean, if you're going to compare him to somebody, it's Shakespeare in terms of centrality of the tradition, in being at the beginning of it.

I was spoiled by Monk's music because it was so good, so complete.

Jazz music by its very nature is just a conglomerate of a lot of different kinds of music.

My absolute favorite pieces are 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Begin the Beguine.' I play these when I am working.

I didn't know what the hell Charlie Parker was playing... I just liked the way he played.

Duke Ellington was famous for hs very original harmonic patterns.

Art Tatum was a genius.

I've been listening to jazzmen, especially saxophonists, since the time of the early Count Basie records, which featured Lester Young. Pres was my first real influence, but the first horn I got was an alto, not a tenor.

My dad always pointed out Louis Armstrong's pad when we passed by there. And me and my dad were both proud Louis Armstrong was from New Orleans.