Jazz Articles about Charles Gayle

Charles Gayle Trio: Forgiveness

by Mark Corroto
November 21, 2008

His story is familiar to many. Charles Gayle, the many times homeless saxophonist, plays his signature firebrand music and testifies to his religious faith in equal measure. Known for his tenor, he also plays the piano (an early instrument for him) with his unique style that is simultaneously old school and modern.

Here he is recorded in his familiar trio format playing live in Lodz, Poland in 2007. Gayle's playing partners are the frequent bassist Hilliard Greene and ...

Charles Gayle at the Red Rose Club, London

by John Sharpe
October 7, 2007

Charles Gayle, William Parker, Mark Sanders Red Rose Club London, England September 21, 2007

Charles Gayle was so keen to get started that he launched his opening salvo--a short repeated squeal of a motif--almost before drummer Mark Sanders had finished thanking promoters Birmingham Jazz for making this short English tour happen. Sanders' initiative had brought together free jazz legend Charles Gayle and long time collaborator, NYC bassist extraordinaire William Parker, to form a trio ...

Charles Gayle: Consider the Lilies

by AAJ Italy Staff
January 2, 2007

C'è qualcosa di essenziale, istintivo, evidentemente paradigmatico, nella musica di Charles Gayle, uno di quei “qualcosa" che fanno strappare i capelli agli immaginifici critici - smarriti nella loro impotenza definitoria - e che invece fanno sogghignare soddisfatti i musicisti, finalmente premiati nel loro desiderio di non vedersi segnare la strada da cartelli e cordoli. La storia di Gayle è ben nota: figura piuttosto marginale della scena free newyorkese degli anni Sessanta e Settanta, ha suonato per anni nelle stazioni della ...

Charles Gayle: Live At The Glenn Miller Cafe & Consider The Lilies...

by Matthew Miller
November 4, 2006

Charles Gayle Live at Glenn Miller Cafe Ayler 2006 Charles Gayle Consider The Lillies... Clean Feed 2006

When 67-year old multi-instrumentalist Charles Gayle takes the stage, audiences brace for an onslaught. Melodic fragments from his saxophone swell into dramatic runs and trills, culminating in piercing shrieks and whistles, or the pounded ...

Charles Gayle: Time Zones & Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe

by Rex Butters
September 30, 2006

Two new releases illuminate for anyone with ears the genius of Charles Gayle. Another crucial release from Ayler Records, the Charles Gayle Trio's Live at Glenn Miller Cafe, spends a vibrant evening, recorded earlier this year, with Gayle on alto re-imagining such standards as “Giant Steps, and “What's New, as well as featuring a few highly original compositions. Tompkins Square records releases Time Zones, a collection of originals played by Gayle on solo piano guaranteed to drop the jaws of ...

Charles Gayle at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus in Philadelphia

by Edward Zucker
August 25, 2006

Charles Gayle Ortlieb's Jazzhaus Philadelphia PA July 13, 2006

In the annals of jazz, Charles Gayle's story is unique. Gayle originally came to prominence as a free jazz tenor and alto saxophonist. In the early 1990s Gayle found religion. His concerts became sermon. Gayle would preach instead of playing his music. Eventually he became homeless, playing his sax on the streets of New York.

Fortunately Gayle rose like a phoenix, reinventing himself. ...

Charles Gayle: Always Reaching

by Rex Butters
May 2, 2006

Charles Gayle's life and art must certainly inspire anyone choosing to look at it. A humble, articulate man who laughs easily, he's seen more than his share of hard times. Yet now, at 65, his creative arc takes the upswing as critics and audiences begin to catch up. A highly original saxophonist, Gayle resumed his piano studies in the last decade and has released his second collection of solo piano performances, Time Zones. At times playing with enough force and ...