Playing wrong Notes in Jazz - Herbie Hancock on Miles Davis, a fantastic Story about mistakes.

TL;DR

Pianist shares a memorable experience with Miles Davis, where he learned the power of transforming mistakes into opportunities for growth.

Transcript

i have so many stories to tell about miles davis and one of my favorite ones is when we were performing in i believe stuttgart germany this was about nineteen or maybe early 64. i think it was 63 and just as i am today i'm very i've always been interested in science since i was a kid so i'm always buying uh you know now it's computers and it's you ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Miles Davis had the ability to turn mistakes into opportunities for growth by embracing them and finding a way to make them work within the music.
• 🪈 The narrator's fascination with technology and his habit of carrying a tape recorder on stage caused some tension with Miles Davis.
• 🛢️ Music was tight, powerful, and innovative during the performance in Stuttgart, with Tony Williams on drums and Wayne Shorter on saxophone.
• 🗯️ Miles Davis' ability to make the wrong chord sound right through his choice of notes astounded the narrator and taught him a valuable lesson about acceptance and growth.
• 🤗 The experience with Miles Davis highlighted the importance of having an open mind and turning challenging situations into medicine for personal growth.
• ❓ The narrator realized that mistakes are not necessarily failures but rather events that can be transformed into something constructive.
• 💨 Miles Davis' approach to mistakes in music reflects his philosophy on life, encouraging individuals to accept situations, experience them as they are, and find ways to create something positive out of them.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the narrator's fascination with technology during the Miles Davis performance?

The narrator was interested in science and technology, specifically portable reel-to-reel tape recorders, which he carried on stage with him to record the performances.

Q: How did Miles Davis react when the narrator played the wrong chord?

Miles Davis paused for a moment and then played notes that made the wrong chord sound correct. He saw it as an opportunity to create something new and embraced the mistake.

Q: What lesson did the narrator learn from this experience with Miles Davis?

The narrator learned the importance of embracing situations as they are and turning them into opportunities for growth. Rather than seeing mistakes as failures, they can be transformed into strengths.

Q: How did the narrator feel after playing the wrong chord?

The narrator was initially shocked and couldn't continue playing for about a minute. However, observing Miles Davis' reaction helped him understand the power of transforming mistakes into something constructive.

Key Insights:

• Miles Davis had the ability to turn mistakes into opportunities for growth by embracing them and finding a way to make them work within the music.
• The narrator's fascination with technology and his habit of carrying a tape recorder on stage caused some tension with Miles Davis.
• Music was tight, powerful, and innovative during the performance in Stuttgart, with Tony Williams on drums and Wayne Shorter on saxophone.
• Miles Davis' ability to make the wrong chord sound right through his choice of notes astounded the narrator and taught him a valuable lesson about acceptance and growth.
• The experience with Miles Davis highlighted the importance of having an open mind and turning challenging situations into medicine for personal growth.
• The narrator realized that mistakes are not necessarily failures but rather events that can be transformed into something constructive.
• Miles Davis' approach to mistakes in music reflects his philosophy on life, encouraging individuals to accept situations, experience them as they are, and find ways to create something positive out of them.
• The story emphasizes the transformative power of embracing mistakes and turning them into strengths, not only in music but also in life.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The narrator shares a story about performing with Miles Davis in Stuttgart, Germany in the early 1960s and his fascination with technology.

• Despite initial challenges, the performance was energetic and innovative, until the narrator played the wrong chord during Davis' solo.

• Rather than seeing it as a mistake, Davis embraced the moment and turned it into an opportunity to create something new, teaching a valuable lesson about acceptance and growth.