Roscoe Mitchell

I’m approaching a period in my life though where I’d like to be totally absorbed into music, doing concerts, writing something. Basically, that IS what I am doing.

I don’t like to box myself in when I’m composing.

I just consider myself a student, trying to learn more about it.

I remember times when the whole music scene was just flourishing.

I’ve always been interested in shaping music in odd ways, with odd riffs and that’s been probably something that I’ve continued on with my studies with improvisation as I’m working with people.

I always try to think of a vocabulary to match different musical situations.

What I try to impart to a musician is to really try to practice the instrument in a really sincere way. Learn as much about music as you possibly can. Learn composition. Study to try to create compositions of your own and put your own personal touch on your music.

I felt that I had been influenced by being in the city enough and I wanted to go off by myself to see what was going on. I remember going out there and looking in the mirror and thinking I wasn’t anything.

You have to know composition to be a good improviser.

If you listen to nature, all the sounds are done in a confident way. I’m trying to do that.

I like to hear melodies that go from one extreme to the next- saxophone to a bell to a whistle, for instance.