I am a huge fan of Adrian Piper: how she works, how she reveals her process in the work, how she writes about it. Jason Moran adrianfanhuge Change image and share on social
Monk's music is often defined as enigmatic, eccentric and humorous - as if it had little to do with the pain he may have endured to create his art. But I believe Monk routinely shared his history with his audience, no matter how unpalatable that history was, and it is for that very reason that his music connects with people around the globe. Jason Moran artaudienceconnect share on social
I kind of want to get the music back on a road it hasn't been on for a while. I want to promote the arts as part of the American diet. Jason Moran americanartback Change image and share on social
As an improviser, my nature is to take a theme and constantly rework it. Jason Moran constantlyimprovisernature Change image and share on social
Once you step on stage, the people are actually looking to be transformed. That's why they showed up; that's why they spent some money. And great performances do that. Jason Moran greatmoneypeople Change image and share on social
Most pianists listen to about four or five different piano players before they call it quits and say, 'Okay, I've got my thing together.' Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and maybe Chick Corea. Or maybe before that, Oscar Peterson. Jason Moran billcallchick share on social
I play a Monk song, it's like you get possessed. And then you have to break that spell. You have to remind yourself that you are an individual, or that you aren't Thelonious Monk. Jason Moran breakindividualmonk Change image and share on social
If you hear Thelonious Monk play a run that goes from the top of the piano, OK, he has opened up the Grand Canyon with that. He's the river that's carved this entire space that we call the Grand Canyon. He does that with one run. He lets you know, like, what the possibility of the sound of the piano can do. Jason Moran callcanyoncarve share on social
America used to be proud of abstraction, and we have fallen away from it. The future depends on people trying to promote that abstract thinking. Not just in relation to music and jazz and the arts, but the economy, social strife, tension between people. Jason Moran abstractabstractionamerica share on social
I used to watch those rock videos where they would chainsaw the piano. And I thought, 'That's what I want to do.' I thought classical music was corny. Jason Moran chainsawclassicalcorny Change image and share on social