Charles Tolliver

relyles · March-30th-2003, 10:08 AM

On Thursday night I caught the reunion of Music, Inc. with Tolliver, Stanley Cowell, Cecil McBee and Billy Drummond at the Northmpton Center for the Arts in Northampton, MA. I thought it was a great performance! I was concerend about whether Tolliver still had his chops, but he played very well. Cowell and McBee lived up to their well earned reputations and Drummond was a good addition to the group. Familiar compositions played excellently. The highlight for me was what I recognized as McBee's Felicite. This is the tune that starts as a ballad, has a free section and in the end has a quasi soul jazz feel. McBee took a bowed bass solo that sung!

Anyone else catch this historic concert?

Tom Storer · March-30th-2003, 10:28 AM

Didn't see the concert 'cause of all the water in the way, but I'm glad to hear it was a success. And glad to see you here, relyles!

Pete C · March-30th-2003, 10:36 AM

I saw them last year in NY and have been raving that "Charles Tolliver still has it" ever since. Actually, when I saw him about 12 years ago his chops were not so great, but he certainly got them back.

Dennis Gonzalez · March-30th-2003, 10:39 AM

Hopefully I'll be able to catch Tolliver in the next few. I doubt he's coming to Dallas...*chuckle*

I'm glad you got to see such a legend and that he's playing well. Seeing Miles at Montreux (on film) doing his old material was painful. Sounds like you had a better experience.

Thanks for your report.

BFrank · March-30th-2003, 06:29 PM

I was hoping someone would be able to give us a review of this show. I would have been there in a second if it had been on my coast. Sounds like they smoked as well as I would have hoped. Do you remember what other tunes they played?

Let's hope that Paul can get them to come out to Yoshi's.

relyles · March-31st-2003, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BFrank
Do you remember what other tunes they played?

Unfortunately they did not announce the titles of any of the pieces. All the tunes sounded familiar, but I could not recall the titles. They played a version of Round Midnight at a very fast tempo that confirmed Tolliver still has his chops. I believe one of the other tunes they played was Cowell's Equipoise, but other than that and the other's mentioned, I am not sure of the titles.

Pete C · March-31st-2003, 09:43 AM

If I remember correctly, among the tunes they did in NY last year were Tolliver's "Plight" and Cowell's "Effi."

relyles · March-31st-2003, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
If I remember correctly, among the tunes they did in NY last year were Tolliver's "Plight" and Cowell's "Effi."

Now that you mention it what I am remembering as "Equipoise" may have actually been "Effi". Also, I am positive that one of the tunes they did was a composition Tolliver recorded with Jackie McLean and it may have been "Plight". I apologize for not being certain. Whatever they played, it was glorious music.

BFrank · March-31st-2003, 05:10 PM

Oh, man - to hear "Equipoise", "Plight" and/or "Effi" would be am-aaaaaaaaaaaaa-zing

rene · April-1st-2003, 07:18 AM

He has been talked about a lot on previous discussions...so could you please recommend an album i could start listening on Tolliver? Thanks.

Pete C · April-1st-2003, 08:02 AM

My favorite Tolliver is Grand Max. The Ringer is also excellent.

Selected in-print sideman appearances:

McCoy Tyner - Song for My Lady
Max Roach - Members Don't Git Weary
Jackie McLean - Jacknife

rene · April-1st-2003, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
My favorite Tolliver is Grand Max. The Ringer is also excellent.

Selected in-print sideman appearances:

McCoy Tyner - Song for My Lady
Max Roach - Members Don't Git Weary
Jackie McLean - Jacknife

Thanks, Pete. i'll check them out!

Gary Sisco · April-1st-2003, 08:28 AM

Glad to hear all of this, as I'm a major Tolliver man. I'd wanted to go the Mass. show but have been too busy for road trips, this winter.

ADR · April-1st-2003, 09:01 AM

I'll second the recommendations for "The Ringer" and "Grand Max".

Tolliver also made invaluable contributions as a composer and soloist to Jackie McLean's mid 60's band. If you can find them, you can check him out on Jackie McLean's Blue Note albums "Its Time", "Action", and "Jacknife". All of these albums are in the now OOP Jackie McLean Mosaic box set. In addition, "Jacknife" is currently available as a Blue Note Connoisseur and it also features Lee Morgan on trumpet. Tolliver really shaped the sound of that particular incarnation of Jackie McLean's band much as Grachan Moncur shaped the earlier incarnation of which he was a part.

ADR

Pete C · April-1st-2003, 09:07 AM

Grand Max is still available from Berkshire Record Outlet for $2.99, but they don't have The Ringer any more.

Gary Sisco · April-1st-2003, 09:31 AM

Man, whoever doesn't own it had better jump on that right now.

BFrank · April-2nd-2003, 02:24 AM

Dusty Groove lists "Live at Historic Slugs", "Live in Tokyo", "Music Inc & Big Band" and "Impact" on its web site. It also states that they are "out of stock" but you can leave your email address and they will notify you when they get them back in. I got "Slugs" from them while they still had it, so it's reasonable to expect that they actually will get it back.

I can't recommend "Slugs" and "Tokyo" highly enough. Those two are TRUE Tolliver classics.

Tom K · April-2nd-2003, 02:41 AM

One of my most cherished memories is hearing the 1967 Max Roach band with Tolliver, Odean Pope, Ronnie Matthews and Jymie Merritt. That swept me off my feet - and Tolliver had an important part in it. I definitely remember them playing "Effi" and "Equipoise", too.

Pete C · April-2nd-2003, 07:50 AM

I didn't realize Pope went back that far with Roach.

Tom K · April-2nd-2003, 02:25 PM

Yeah, it is surprising. I seem to remember reading that Pope later went to study again before he re-joined Roach (around 1979 or so), following Billy Harper.

Peterdubya · August-21st-2003, 05:59 PM

I really would love to hear this band!

CHARLES TOLLIVER BIG BAND
at the Jazz Standard September 27 and 28, 2003

The Jazz Standard is proud to present the long overdue first club appearance ever of the Charles Tolliver Big Band. Mr. Tolliver recorded two critically acclaimed big band records for the Strata-East label in the 1970s which featured the likes of Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, George Coleman, Curtis Fuller, Clifford Jordan, Harold Vick, James Spaulding and many other greats but never performed live with the band. Joining Mr. Tolliver for this historic occasion are:
Jon Faddis, David Guy, Keyon Harrold, David Weiss- Trumpets
Clark Gayton, Jason Jackson, Aaron Johnson- Trombone
Gary Bartz and James Spaulding- Alto Sax
Gary Thomas and Craig Handy- Tenor Sax
Howard Johnson- Baritone Sax
Stanley Cowell- Piano
Ugonna Okegwo- Bass
Billy Drummond- Drums
Sets at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 pm September 27
and 7:30 and 9:30 pm_September 28

Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1942,_Charles_Tolliver's_musical career began at the age of 8 when his beloved grandmother, Lela, presented him with his first instrument, a cornet, and the inspiration to learn.

After a few years of college majoring in pharmacy at Howard University, and formulating his trumpet style, Charles began his professional career with the alto saxophone giant Jackie McLean, making his recording debut with McLean on Blue Note Records in 1964, Charles has since recorded and/or performed with such renowned artists as Roy Haynes, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Booker Ervin, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Oliver Nelson, Roy Ayers, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and Max Roach.

In 1968, Charles Tolliver was voted as the Downbeat Critic's Choice in the Trumpet category. In 1969, he formed the quartet Music Inc which has become internationally respected for its innovative approach. Charles and Music Inc have toured in North and South America, Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan performing at festivals, concerts, radio and television stations.

In 1971,_Charles, along with pianist Stanley Cowell,_formed Strata-East Records, one of the first independent, artist owned jazz record labels.. Their first recording, "Music Inc & Big Band", launched the label_and since then the Strata-East concept, a first of its kind, has provided the professional vehicle by which many important artist-produced recordings have reached the marketplace.

Charles Tolliver is a brilliant player, capable of handling any tempo or mood. He has perfected an extremely individual and distinctive sound which clearly sets him apart from other trumpet players today. Characterized by a strong sense of tradition, Charles's playing is noted for its brilliance, inventiveness, melodic warmth and its poignancy. His compositions are inventive and display masterful writing ability. It is no small wonder that Charles_Tolliver has earned the reputation as one of "the" trumpeters in jazz

relyles · August-21st-2003, 07:00 PM

Holy crap! Thanks for the info. I am going to have to try to make that one.

Pete C · August-21st-2003, 07:04 PM

Ya F*ing Hoo! I'm there. Peter, you or Kline or Jackson will just have to get them out to your coast.

August-21st-2003, 08:14 PM

I'm very happy to hear that Tolliver is back in action!

BFrank · August-21st-2003, 11:42 PM

If anyone goes to this, will you ask Charles to try and make a trip out West?

THANKS!

Lois Gilbert · October-14th-2003, 10:39 PM

Vanished Hard-Bop Trumpeter Resurfaces With Many Friends
by Gary Giddins
October 15 - 21, 2003
Charles Tolliver
Jazz Standard
September 28

Charles Tolliver's big-band gig at Jazz Stan-dard should signal the resumption of a career that peaked in the 1970s. A trumpet player and composer who staked his claim as a rugged hard-bopper on two 1964 Jackie McLean LPs, he freelanced widely until 1969, when he formed the daring quartet Music Inc. Two years later he and pianist Stanley Cowell launched Strata-East, which issued many strong records, including a lavish, ignored 1975 orchestra album, Impact. Then, suddenly, the label and Tolliver vanished. Since re-emerging in New York, he's kept a low profile, teaching at the New School.

At 61, Tolliver is ripe for Act II. His trumpet retains much of its vigorous tone, diligent logic, and controlled fury. But his most powerful achievement is as a composer-conductor. At Jazz Standard, his dramatic semaphore directed intricate section work in long numbers with balanced pace, color tones, and excitement. His reeds compare with the dream team convened on Impact: Gary Bartz, Jesse Davis, Craig Handy, Gary Thomas, and Howard Johnson.

Tolliver has expanded the fast "Round Midnight" that capped his 1973 quartet set, Live in Tokyo; the orchestra arrangement blends bass and baritone lows with trumpet screeches, followed by a musing Tolliver-Cowell interlude, until unison brasses pick up the final two bars of the theme and throttle the tempo as Jesse Davis wails and Cowell goes on a two-fisted romp. Also impressive is an elaborate rethinking of "Mournin' Variations," recorded for Impact by big band and string octet; this time flutes, bass clarinet, and trumpet sing the Japanese-flavored theme up against fat dissonant orchestra chords. A succession of robust solos—Bartz was in clover—supported by exacting riffs, dominates the middle section, before a reprise of the opener, now expanded with a Billy Drummond drum break, for what Gerry Mulligan would have called a "capital E ending." This band deserves a permanent home

Pete C · October-15th-2003, 08:47 AM

I believe Giddins was only there for the first set on the second night. I think--except for the fact that Tolliver had fewer trumpet features--the second set that night was even better.

BFrank · October-15th-2003, 11:08 PM

This is GREAT news.

Thanks for posting the review, Lois!

Pete C · December-25th-2003, 11:39 AM

New Yorkers have another chance to catch the big band, Jan. 13, Birdland.

mke · December-25th-2003, 01:01 PM

I listened to Music Inc.'s "Live at Historic Slugs" for the first time recently, really nice.