Quote

When improvisation is properly applied, it is compositional thinking, sped way up.

Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to have a certain amount of knowledge about musical structure.

Improvisation is a compositional method.

I always had a knack for improvisation. I can write down the notes I play, but never really had a proper academic musical background. I suppose I'm blessed and cursed by the fact I have that freedom.

People's association with improvisation means one person playing an endless stream of notes over something, and it doesn't have to be.

I think that was the whole idea behind doing the solo record was to be able to do musically whatever I wanted to do.

To be a good improviser, you have to study composition as a parallel. Because what improvisation is, on a high level, is spontaneous composition.

My whole life has been one big improvisation.

Improvisation is not a presentational form, except in small doses, or as a game. It's a tool.

With human beings it could be argued that all music-making is, in essence, grounded in improvisation.