John Hammond discusses jazz on televison.

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John Hammond discusses music composition.

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John Hammond discusses his ecperience with racial awareness.

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Q: “That’s something you’ve always looked for in your productions, isn’t it – an element of surprise, something that doesn’t fit…”

A: “That's it. That's jazz. That's improvisation and it's, you know ... This is why a Dave Brubeck Quartet is together too long and you miss that. This is when ... why in Benny Goodman's band in the old days or in Basie's band in the old days, nobody stayed too long, you know. I mean, there was always some new great kick in a band, and I think this is vastly important, you know, just the unexpected is.”