Midweek pick, June 26th, 2024: Gayle, Graves and Parker's WEBO

Legendary trio's 1991 concert at WEBO in NYC finally available

Charles Gayle / Milford Graves / William Parker: WEBO (Black Editions Archive)

Charles Gayle: tenor saxophones
Milford Graves: drums, voice
William Parker: double bass

Milford Graves is an undisputed legend of free jazz, yet although his career spanned six decades or so, his work has arguably been under-documented. At least in terms of recorded output that has available to the public. Luckily, Black Editions Archives seem to be of that opinion, too, and have set it upon themselves to rectify the situation, starting with the release in 2022 of the terrific trio date Historic Music Past Tense Future featuring Graves with Peter Brötzmann and William Parker.

WEBO, released last week digitally and on LP, is another trio recording. This one features Graves with Parker yet again, along with Charles Gayle on tenor saxophone. The recording was made at the short-lived WEBO-venue in 1991, at the dawn of what has been described as a resurgent free jazz scene in New York. I’m not sure it ever went away, to be honest, but that’s an outsider’s view, so perhaps I’m in the wrong. The fact that things were cooking in NYC around that time seems clear, though, WEBO providing ample proof.

It’s a monumental release on several levels. The total running time is over two hours, spanning three LP’s. But the sheer power of the music here is equally immense. After an initial few bars of bowed bass and tapped percussion, that music comes crashing in like a massive wave, and barely lets go after that. Gayle lets out low growls and squealing overtones, connected by ferocious runs, hurried on by Graves’ continuously pounding polythythmic drums and clanging and crashing cymbals, and Parker’s bass that pops, leaps and pulsates almost without pause. A couple of Ayler-esque themes and mesmerizing chants give some respite, but letting the music’s overwhelming force wash over you is nothing short of a life affirming rush.