Charles Gayle

Free Jazz saxophonist, pianist, percussionist, and composer. Born 28 February 1939 in Buffalo, New York, USA; died 5 September, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was initially known as a saxophonist who came to prominence in the 1990s after decades of obscurity. Gayle also performed as a pianist, bass clarinetist, bassist, and percussionist. Gayle learned to play the piano as a child. Later he taught himself the saxophone. In the New York of the late 60s and early 70s, Gayle wanted to catch up with the free jazz scene and so he was jamming with Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. From 1970 to 1973, Mr. Gayle was an assistant professor of music at the State University of New York at Buffalo (now the University at Buffalo). Gayle was homeless for approximately twenty years, playing saxophone on street corners and subway platforms around New York City. He had described making a conscious decision to become homeless. In 1988, he gained fame through a trio of albums recorded in one week and released by Swedish label, Silkheart Records. Since then he had become a major figure in free jazz, recording for labels including Black Saint, Knitting Factory Records, FMP, and Clean Feed. Around the year 2000 Gayle has taught music at Bennington College.