Drummer Milford Graves was a leader in the Free Jazz movement and also a self-taught polymath who made significant contributions in fields as varied as visual art, cardiac research, and martial arts. We hear from Milford as well as friends and colleagues about what made his music and his life so special.

Legendary bassist William Parker tells the story of having his heartbeat recorded by Milford; Olympic gold medalist Bob Beamon reflects on the connection between long-jumping and drumming; composer and drummer Susie Ibarra talks about what she learned from Milford; Kim Gordon discusses watching Milford perform; Camae Ayewa (moor mother) walks us through her visit to "A Mind-Body Deal", an exhibition Ars Nova Workshop curated about Milford Graves. 

Ad Hoc is produced by Ars Nova Workshop in partnership with Rowhome Productions.

More information about "A Mind-Body Deal" our Ars Nova Workshop's website here.

Ad Hoc is a podcast about improvisation: how it creates music, shapes worlds, and lives in the brains and souls of some of the most curious and inventive people on the planet.

In our pilot episode, we talk with a poet laureate of Philadelphia, a world-class chef, and some of the many geniuses who we know about how improvisation enters into their lives and work. A conversation between saxophonist Chris Potter and medical researcher Dr. Charles Limb (Co-Director of the Sound Health Network, a special initiative of the NEA, NIH, and Kennedy Center) starts to unfold what “this is your brain on improvisation” might look like.

Ad Hoc is produced by Ars Nova Workshop in partnership with Rowhome Productions.