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This is Joe Wong. Welcome to the Trap Set, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.

I'm going to play something for you. You're hearing ghosts by Albert Eiler, featuring my guest Milford Graves on drums.

I first became aware of his work when I was in high school.

At that point, I was listening to rock and was especially into punk.

But when I first heard this song, I was blown away by the energy exuded by Eiler in Graves.

This was punker than punk, and the music served as my bridge between the familiar world of rock

and an exciting new world filled with great jazz improvisers.

Milford first gained notoriety in the 60s as a pioneer of the style that was labeled Free Jazz.

Although his approach may seem chaotic and bombastic on first listen,

a closer examination also reveals deeply intellectual underpinnings and respect for percussive traditions from around the world.

Milford's style was considered controversial by some when it first emerged.

But over his 50-plus year career, he's played with some of the greatest improvisers in both

the avant-garde world and the bebob generation, everyone from Farrow Sanders to Kenny Clark.

He's also a respected authority in the world of drumming, and was a professor at Bennington

College for almost four decades.

I visited Milford's house in South Jamaica, Queens, and the building covered in mosaics, mirrors, and bold colors, evokes the work of Gaudi. The basement where we recorded this interview is part herbal healing center, part biometric testing facility, and part music studio.

It's difficult to imagine a more perfect place.

...