Two young musicians went to visit an old master known for having played with legends but now teaching in obscurity above a hardware store. They asked him, “How do we make our playing unforgettable?” The old man was eating a sandwich. He didn’t answer right away. After a while he said, “Play something.” They played a flashy duet they’d been rehearsing for weeks, complicated chords, tight rhythms, clever modulations. When they finished, the room was silent except for the sound of his chewing. Finally, he said, “Who would want to listen to that after a long day at work?” They looked at each other, confused. “But it’s harmonically rich, and rhythmically advanced.”