Charles Gayle

New York's tenor saxophonist Charles Gayle (1939), who lived deliberately homeless for 15 years and also performed as a clown called Streets, was finally able to make a decent recording in April 1988, a session which resulted in three albums: Always Born, with John Tchicai on saxophones, Sirone on bass and Reggie Nicholson on drums, which contains notable compositions such as Always Born (9:48), Needs (11:52), Solid Clouds (12:59) and Then Offer All (10:32), and then two albums in a trio with Sirone and drummer Dave Pleasant, namely Spirits Before, which contains the 18-minute Spirits Before, and Homeless, which contains the 19-minute The Creations. He claimed that his music was inspired by the Christian scriptures.

A similar trio made the live Repent (march 1992), containing two colossal improvisations: Repent (23:44) and Jesus Christ and Scripture (50:36).

After playing with Cecil Taylor on Always A Pleasure (april 1993), and with Rashied Ali (drums) and William Parker (bass) on the five-part suite Touchin' On Trane (november 1991), Gayle formed a quartet with William Parker (on cello and violin), which is documented on several albums, on which he also played bass clarinet and viola: Translations (january 1993), containing Joyous Fellowship (14:40), Healing (19:02), Holy Mountain (14:38), Hymn Of Praise (8:54) and Suffering For Love (14:01); Raining Fire (january 1993), containing In Christ (17:08), Blood's Finality (12:50), Death Conquered (15:33), Grace (14:48) and Raining Fire (8:21); Blue Shadows (january 1993), containing the 19-minute Eternity Promised, the eleven-minute Blue Shadows and the 13-minute In Sorrow; the live Avant Knitting Tours (february 1993), containing colossal improvisations such as Sealed Books, Take Refuge and Sanctification; and Consecration (april 1993), containing O Father (15:16), Rise Up (10:02), Justified (8:37), Glorious Saints (13:19), Thy Peace (8:33) and Redemption (11:36).

Abiding Variations (august 1993) contains seven variations on a theme for a total of 70 minutes performed in a trio.

He also played piano on Kingdom Come (? 1994) in a trio with Parker on bass and Sunny Murray on drums, which contains: Lord Lord (21:17), Beset Souls (9:03), His Crowning Grace (13:00), Anthem to Eternity (11:24) and Yokes (10:02).

He also played bass clarinet, drums, piano, and even vocals on his solo Unto I Am (september 1994), which contains: Innocent (13:26), Pastures Colors (11:56), Eden Lost (10:55), Good Shepard (11:30) and Child's Love (11:00).

Daily Bread (october 1995), with William Parker on cello, bassist Wilber Morris (also on violin) and drummer Michael Wimberly, and Gayle also on piano, bass clarinet and viola, contains the 16-minute Offering To Christ.

He recorded countless live albums in trios: Berlin Movement From Future Days (august 1993), Live At Disobey (march 1994), which contains Holy Faith (22 minutes), Psalm Prayer (11 minutes) and Hymn Of Redemption (30 minutes). Look Up (september 1994), containing the 22-minute The Book Of Revelation, Testaments (july 1995), which contains the 16-minute Testaments, the 21-minute Christ's Suffering and the twelve-minute Faith Evermore. Precious Soul (november 1997), including the 33-minute Delight, Consider The Lilies (june 2005), Live At Glenn Miller Cafe' (february 2006), Our Souls (june 2009), Seasons Changing (november 2017), etc

Delivered (? 1997) featured pianist James Jones, bassist Gerald Benson and drummer Kalil Madi. Gayle also soprano sax and piano on Solo In Japan (july 1997).

The trio remained his favorite format. Ancient Of Days (september 1999) contains Betrayal (12:11), Risen Eternal (10:15), Holy Servant (10:34), Draw Me Nearer (12:58), New Earth (16:02) and Glorified Love (9:26). Shout (may 2003) contains I Remember You (10:34), Shout Of Love (10:08), Unfo Jesus Christ (9:35) and I Can't Get Started (11:36).

He also the solo piano albums Jazz Solo Piano (december 2000), which seems to mock bebop, and Time Zones (? 2006).

No Bills (april 2003) is a solo live album.

He joined the Sirone-Bang Ensemble (with Billy Bang on vioilin, Sirone on bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums) for Configuration (november 2004). He reunited with William Parker on bass and Rashied Ali on drums for By Any Means (october 2007), on which he played alto sax, and for Live At Jazzwerkstatt Peitz (may 2014).

Forgiveness (? 2007) and The Alto Sessions (october 2017) document other trios.

Oils (september 2009) documents a live performance with Szilard Mezei (viola), Ervin Malina and Erno Hock (both on double bass) and Istvan Csik (drums).

Gayle died in 2023 at the age of 84.