Making Jazz is a very naked thing to do. That anyone can do anything at all but stand there in paralyzed amazement when the chord changes are going by, the musicians can function with minimal premeditation and great creativity within the materials of a song's structure, is more remarkable than even the most expert practitioners themselves seem to appreciate. It requires both tremendous knowledge, whether intuitive or acquired, and the physical reflexes of an athlete. Jazz is not only one of the most striking achievements in the history of music, it is one of the most striking achievements in the history of human thought.
Gene Less - Meet Me At Jim & Andy's, Jazz Musicians and their World
