Milford Graves, free jazz pioneer, rest in peace
Renowned jazz percussionist Milford Graves died today from congestive heart failure, reports NPR’s Lars Gotrich. He was 79. In 2018, Graves was diagnosed with amyloid cardiomyopathy, often called stiff heart syndrome, and was told he had six months to live. He used his own studies of the rhythm of the human heart to fight the condition. “It turns out, I was studying the heart to prepare for treating myself,” he told The New York Times in August of 2020.
A true multi-hyphenate, Milford also counted himself an acupuncturist, herbalist, martial artist, programmer, and professor, and he continued to perform live after his diagnosis. (We most recently caught him as part of the Andrew Cyrille celebration at the 2019 Vision Festival.) He led quite a life. From his bio:
A pioneer of free Jazz, Graves was a member of the New York Art Quartet, whose iconic first recording in 1964 featured LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) reading his poem “Black Dada Nihilismus.” In 1967, he played at John Coltrane’s funeral. A consummate autodidact with a syncretic approach, Graves invented a martial art form called Yara based on the movements of the Praying Mantis, African ritual dance, and Lindy Hop in 1972. Shortly thereafter, Graves joined the Black Music Division at Bennington College, where he taught for 39 years and is now Professor Emeritus. In 2000 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and began to study human heart vibrations to better understand music’s healing potential, and in 2015 he received the Doris Duke Foundation Impact Award.
Milford’s early-’60s Latino Quintet included Chick Corea who also died this week at age 79. They also played together as part of Montego Joe’s band:
And here’s a photo from when Milford Graves and Chick Corea were in the same band, led by conga player Roger “Montego Joe” Sanders… pic.twitter.com/aJ8tsdPMHW
— burning ambulance (NOW A RECORD LABEL!) (@burn_amb) February 13, 2021
If you’d like to learn more, Milford is the subject of 2018 documentary Milford Graves Full Mantis which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Rest in peace, Milford. Read tributes from fellow artists, and watch the trailer for Milford Graves Full Mantis and clips of vintage performances and more, below.
Milford Graves redefined the role of the drummer and transformed music forever. RIP pic.twitter.com/gBYOikoAJx
— Clipping (@clppng) February 13, 2021
MILFORD GRAVES THANK YOU THANK YOU 🙏🏾 THANK YOU pic.twitter.com/dtMaswrYOQ
— poetry (@moormother) February 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/ryleywalker/status/1360372918287540226
Milford Graves was a creative galaxy in human form. Unfolding possibility in every molecule. The first time I went to Big Ears, he might as well have been its mascot. I'll never forget the two concerts he played there. https://t.co/K1vUQbOPvp
— Nate Chinen (@natechinen) February 12, 2021
Rest In Peace to The Professor, the one and only Milford Graves (1941-2021) 💔. Here is a clip of him performing with ISSUE in 2018. Our heart goes out to the many people he influenced through this vibrant life. pic.twitter.com/2h1L3TgDon
— ISSUE Project Room (@issueproject) February 13, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N4P6tz0PRo