A Story your Music Teacher didn’t tell you

“Only play what you hear. If you don’t hear anything, don’t play anything” ~ Chick Corea

Chet Baker demonstrates this simple principle perfectly in his playing.

Check out this video of his playing. 

Chet Baker possesses the ability to scat a similarly melodious solo with his voice. Another proof that he is really playing ONLY what he hears, and NOTHING MORE. No meaningless scale runs of any sort, a true jazz master. 

But many don’t know, behind all these mastery, is a story of a man’s thriumph over adverse conditions in life.

Here’s a short quote of Chet Baker from an interview I came across.
 
“The first real setback was in San Francisco, when I was jumped by those five guys and I lost all my upper teeth, and I had to stop playing. Well, I didn’t stop, but I got a plate and I was determined to find a way. They told me nobody can play with false teeth.”

And finally, I leave you with another quote from Marian Wright Edelman

“Whoever said anybody has a right to give up?”