Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Cecile McLorin Salvant

Quote by Cecile McLorin Salvant

“I remember as a child I just would copy everyone else's handwriting, and now I have sort of a version of my sister's handwriting. And I feel like - sometimes I feel that way for my voice.”

Quote by Cecile McLorin Salvant

Author

Cecile McLorin Salvant
Cecile McLorin Salvant

Cecile McLorin Salvant is a celebrated jazz vocalist renowned for her distinctive vocal style and technical expertise. Born on August 28, 1989, she has garnered international acclaim for her unique approach to jazz and her ability to interpret intricate musical compositions. Salvant's career is marked by numerous awards and accolades, including her victory in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition at the age of 18. more

You May Also Like

“Just reading that - just reading that a person can be black and still perform in blackface, making fun of black people for a living, and at the same time be a genius and be an incredible entertainer and at the same time be extremely conflicted and feel like - just feel terrible for doing that, essentially, which is what Bert Williams felt, from what I gather, from what I read - all of that just made - was so incredible to me.”

“I had a hole in my voice. It's an area in the voice where it's air. It's just - there's no - it's just very airy. And my classical teachers were just so frustrated with me because I would have these deep, low notes that were really strong, and the higher register was strong, but right in that middle area, it was really hard. It was like a passage. And many singers go through this and work it out. But I realized in jazz, I could just take advantage of that and take advantage of having a voice that was very different in different areas.”

“Classical singing - everything had to be homogenous, and it had to just feel like one continuous flow from top to bottom, bottom to top. And in jazz, I felt like, oh, well, I can sing these deep, husky lows if I want and then sing these really, like, tiny, laser highs if I want, as well. And I have - I have no obligation to make it sound like it's just one continuous flow.”