OFF

Question

Hi, I have a doubt on this paragraph from Miles Davis's Autobiography:

'Since I played with the rhytm section, played OFF they did,
I knew Paul and Bill and Jimmy were going to be reacting to and playing OFF that, OFF their thing together.'

Here does mean that Miles w'd be trying to carry the group's thing towards him? And OFF here it refers to separate from their thing? Thanks in advance, Jo.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

There is something inaccurate about the transcription, but playing off other musicians is reacting to what and how they are playing and then extending the theme, melody, riff, or whatever as a result of what you have heard and felt; playing off is extending the other musician's musical ideas by melding them with your own.

Or something like that.

Anonymous · Answer

I would strongly advise against using Miles Davis as an arbiter on conventional English usage! I too have read his autobiography and at times the combinations of jazz phrases and idioms, combined with black American slang, makes it impossible to analyse his writing with any precision. Often he (like many of his community) used words to mean the exact opposite of conventional white English expectations. Similarly, phrases normally used as insults would become terms of endearment and approval. I remember particularly his description of one other jazz musician as "he blew that horn badder than anyone. He was the baddest ************ around." And I think this was the great Cannonball Adderley he was praising!!

In your example I think the use of the expression 'playing off' is intended to mean 'reacting to' or 'responding to'

Good luck with Miles ...!

CalifJim · Answer

I have a doubt on this paragraph

Just a brief note. This sounds like a literal translation from Spanish. duda in Spanish is used in some ways that doubt is not used in English. You need

I have a question on this paragraph.

CJ

OFF

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