Milford Graves
Music
Aa internationally acclaimed jazz musician and theoristis, Milford Graves is one of the world's great geniuses of the drums and percussion, pioneering in the free jazz drumming. He played congas as a child before switching to tap drums at 17 and studied tabla with Wasantha Singh. He has been the recipient of many honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the Down Beat International Award, and the Critics Award. He is a dedicated teacher, herbalist and acupuncturist. He has been a music consultant for the Board of Education in New York City and for P.S. 201 in Harlem and he has taught at Bennington College since 1973. He was described as a “20th-century shaman” by composer and saxophonist John Zorn.
He has worked with Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Guiseppi Logan, the New York Art Quartet, Don Pullen, Sunny Morgan, Albert Ayler, Hugh Glover, Arthur Doyle, Andrew Cyrille, Rashied Ali, Sun Ra, Kenny Clarke, David Murray, Bill Dixon, Amiri Baraka, Don Moye, Miles Davis, David S. Ware, Paul Bley, Toshinori Kondo, Philly Joe Jones, Derek Bailey, Peter Brotzmann, William Parker, Charles Gayle, John Zorn, Bill Laswell, Mike Patton, Marc Ribot, Lou Reed and was an original member of the Jazz Composers' Orchestra Association.
This page is not run by Milford Graves, this is a Fan page !
Contact at www.bennington.edu
Perfect Sound Forever' Interview (1998)
Jazz Weekly' Interview
All About Jazz' Article (2009)
The Indypendent' Article (2006)
The New York Times' Article (2004)
Jazz House' Article (2001)
Discography
Milford Graves : Percussion Ensemble
(1966 ESP Disk / 2003 re-issue) LP/CD
Percussionist Milford Graves recorded his first and only ESP-Disk' recording on August 5th, 1966 along with fellow percussionist, the late Sunny Morgan. According to Milford Graves, the titles were given numbers according to how many beats were in each measure. Milford Graves has been one of the main drummers in the free mode scene (known for skillful inclusion of Asian and African rhythmic ingredients into his solos). He worked with the New York Art Quartet, Giuseppi Logan, Albert Ayler, Don Pullen, Andrew Cyrille and many more. This unique combination of percussion conversations between Milford Graves is a welcomed addition in the new series of digipak re-issues. Liner notes, photos and more... digitally remastered from the original tapes.
..
Milford Graves : Babi
(1977 - IPS) LP
MILFORD GRAVES : Drums, Bells, Gong, Shaker
SUNNY MORGAN : Drums, Bells
Milford Graves : Meditation Among Us
(1977 - Kitty) LP / (1992 - DIW) CD
MILFORD GRAVES - Drums, Percussion, Piano, Voice
with
MOTOTERU TAKAGUI - Tenor Saxophone
KAORU ABE - Alto Saxophone, Sopranino
TOSHINORI KONDO - Trumpet, Alto Horn
TOSHIYUKI TSUCHITORI - Drums, Percussion
Recorded in Japan, 1977.
Milford Graves : Grand Unification
(1998 - TZADIK) CD
Professor, herbalist, healer, Milford Graves is first and foremost one of the world's great geniuses of the drum. Rarely heard live, even more rarely found in the studio, a new recording by Milford Graves is a special event. Long overdue, this is the CD that free jazz fans and every drummer in the world has been waiting for: his music for solo drums. Intense, shooting off in all directions at once and yet always firmly rooted in the tradition, Tzadik is proud to release this important and historic solo recording by one of the world's legendary drum masters.
Milford Graves : Stories
(2000 - TZADIK) CD
A drummer of unparalleled power and creativity, Milford Graves is a living legend. This second volume in a continuing series documenting the solo music of one of the world's most incredible musicians was performed on a special percussion setup allowing unprecedented simultaneity. Playing with his hands, feet, elbows and head Professor Milford Graves takes us to another world with his driving rhythms, intense energy, impassioned vocals. Absolutely riveting.
as Co-Leader...........................................................
New York Art Quartet
(1965 - ESP Disk) LP/CD
Roswell Rudd: trombone
John Tchicai: alto sax
Lewis Worrell: bass
Milford Graves: drums,percussion
Amiri Baraka: recitation
New York Art Quartet : Mohawk
(1965 - Fontana) LP
John Tchicai: saxophone
Roswell Rudd: trombone
Reggie Workman: bass
Milford Graves: drums
Jazz Composer's Orchestra : Communication
(1965 - Fontana) LP
Milford Graves & Don Pullen : Nommo
(1967 - SRP) LP
Milford Graves: drums, percussion
Don Pullen: piano
Milford Graves & Don Pullen : In Concert at Yale University
(1967 - SRP) LP
Andrew Cyrille & Milford Graves : Dialogue Of The Drums
(1974 - IPS) LP
Andrew Cyrille & Milford Graves: percussion
Kenny Clarke, Andrew Cyrille, Milford Graves, Don Moye : Pieces of Time
(1983/1993 - Soul Note) CD
Kenny Clarke, Andrew Cyrille, Milford Graves, Don Moye: drums
David Murray & Milford Graves : Real Deal
(1991 - DIW) CD
David Murray: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Milford Graves: drums and percussion
New York Art Quartet : 35th Reunion
(2000 - DIW) CD
Milford Graves: drums
John Tchicai: saxophone
Roswell Rudd: trombone
Reggie Workman: bass
Amiri Baraka: vocals, poetry
Milford Graves & John Zorn : 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 2
(2004 - Tzadik) CD
Milford Graves: percussion
John Zorn: alto saxophone
Ancient To Future : The Wisdom Of Milford Graves
A Film by William DuVall
Milford Graves is one of the most innovative percussionists of the last 50 years. A true master musician, known mostly in free jazz circles, Graves has performed and recorded with everyone from Albert Ayler to David Murray to John Zorn. That alone would justify a film being made about him. But Graves is also a 40-year tenured college professor and a self-taught natural healer and scientist who is conducting some of the most exciting cardiac research being done anywhere in the world - work that may have far-reaching implications for both medical science and mankind - all from his basement in Queens, NY.
Featuring rare and never-before-seen archival and present day performance footage and interviews, singer/musician William DuVall (Alice In Chains) wrote, produced, and directed this journey into the mind and work of Milford Graves, a self-made Renaissance Man who takes the wisdom of the ages from every corner of the globe and combines it with cutting edge thinking and technology to conjure a profound new hybrid of art and science that is truly Ancient To Future.
General Info
-
Genre: Experimental / Roots Music
Location South Jamaica, Queens, New York, US
Profile Views: 17610
Last Login: 10/11/2012
Member Since 5/10/2009
Type of Label Indie
-
Bio
-
Members
-
Influences
-
Sounds Like
