You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you're really interested in it.

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• Cecil Taylor:

  I discovered very early that it wasn't quite enough for me to imitate people.

• Cecil Taylor:

  To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.

• Cecil Taylor:

  The quality of life, values that go down to doin' that, that's the issue.

• Cecil Taylor:

  I understand about the relative strengths of people, and I don't think people have to be anything.

• Cecil Taylor:

  Mother, being a pianist, told me how to play with my fingers on the piano.

• Cecil Taylor:

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

• Cecil Taylor:

  The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain

• Cecil Taylor:

  One of the things Mother said to me, 'You want this, you're going to practice.' And I know how to p

• Cecil Taylor:

  Fats - very funny man, but every note that he played was like a pearl.

• Cecil Taylor:

  When you play, when you perform, it might be for the last time, so you got to do it.