Charles Tolliver
"…of all the trumpeters to come to prominence in the 60's. Charles Tolliver was perhaps the most sensitive to the necessity of swinging." –Ira Gitler/THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAZZ IN THE 70s
Charles Tolliver's first studio album in 13 years, CONNECT, was released by Gearbox Records on July 31, 2020.
See CONNECT on Bandcamp & Apple Music
READ PRESS FOR 'CONNECT'
Read Bandcamp feature interview
During the 60s Charles Tolliver worked extensively with several leading bop musicians of the time including Jackie McLean, with whom he was debuted on the 1964 Blue Note recording "IT'S TIME", and the bands of Art Blakey, and Sonny Rollins. For a short stint he also performed in the Gerald Wilson orchestra, in whose band he met Roy Ayers.
He recorded with both Wilson and Ayers as leaders and he was a member of the Max Roach Quintet, recording the 1968 Atlantic Records session Members Don't Get Weary. At the end of the 60s he was a founder member of the cooperative quartet, Music, Inc. Another member of this band was Stanley Cowell with whom Tolliver formed the cult label Strata-East.
In 2007, Charles released the big band album With Love, which was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. He followed this up two years later with another big band release, Emperor March: Live at the Blue Note.
Charles currently performs with his Music Inc band:
Bruce Edwards – guitar, Keith Brown – piano, Darrell Green – drums, and/or special guests Buster Williams, Lenny White, Victor Gould.
2015 saw a wonderful celebration of Strata-East. Charles was joined by the Strata-East All Stars (Stanley Cowell, Alvin Queen, Billy Harper, Cecil McBee and special guest Jean Carne) for three European concerts, culminating in a performance at the Barbican hosted by BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson.
Allan Harris
Avery*Sunshine
Billy Harper Quintet
Brandon Goldberg
Camilla George
Chano Dominguez
The Cookers
The Dizzy Gillespie Afro Latin Experience
The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars
The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band
The Dizzy Gillespie Symphony Sessions
Georgie Fame
João Bosco Quartet
Keyon Harrold
Lagos Pepper Soup
The London Community Gospel Choir
Matthew Whitaker
Michel Camilo
Mingus Big Band
Pee Wee Ellis
Reis Demuth Wiltgen
Sammy Figueroa
Tony Momrelle
Vincent Herring
Charles Tolliver Links
4 stars for Brandon Goldberg
The Cookers: 'All-star septet heats up the Cistern in Charleston, S.C.'
Jazzahead Bremen postponed to 2021
Matthew Whitaker – 60 Minutes CBS
Camilla George to showcase at Jazzahead