guidance

Because of the operation, Miles could only whisper and when you listen to his trumpet playing, especially with a harmon mute, that's what he sounded like, it sounded like his voice. Thelonious Monk walked and moved like his music. there is no separation between you and your music. You are, you are the bass, you are the piano. the piano is you. There is no separation between you. your personality comes through your instrument, regardless. So what we have to develop is not our ability to play the instrument, we have to develop our personalities, musical and otherwise. 

Max (roach) said be conscious that energy is not enough. I heard a recording coming in today, and the saxophone player I didnt like at all - sounded like his reed was too tight for him, he couldn't control it. He was going on raw energy, which was not particularly appropriate for the tune, but he didnt have control of the instrument. And there was somebody else, on a recording right after that who was having the same problem with control of the instrument. YOU CONTROL THE INSTRUMENT! The instrument cant control you! if the instrument is controlling you then... you haven't done enough work, essentially. The idea is that you're presenting yourself to the world, you're offering to the world your talent. So the only reason to practice is not to get better on your instrument, that's the theory that some people have, my idea is that you remove the instrument as an obstacle between you and music. I want to hear you communicate, communicate an idea, communicate something to the rest of the world, because that's what you're about, that's what you are. - Cecil Bridgewater