This November, we welcomed legendary jazz trumpeter, composer, and co-founder of Strata East Records Charles Tolliver for a masterclass with our BMus Jazz students.
During the session, Charles Tolliver formed a jazz band with the students, as they workshopped and performed “Always Love(d) You”, his original composition and arrangement. The visit followed his event Charles Tolliver celebrates Max Roach @ 100 at the Barbican, part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. The performance, directed by Charles Tolliver, commemorated legendary drummer Max Roach. The trumpeter joined Roach’s group in 1967, and they formed a lifelong musical and personal relationship.
About Charles Tolliver
Charles Tolliver, entirely self-taught, is a remarkable talent who has gained an outstanding reputation as a trumpetist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1942, his 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 saxophone giant Jackie Mclean. Making his recording debut with McLean on Blue Note Records in 1964, he was on several advanced hard bop records in the mid-’60s, played with Gerald Wilson’s Orchestra in Los Angeles (1966-1967), and was a member of Max Roach’s group at the same time (1967-1969) as the compatible Gary Bartz. Charles Tolliver has been a recipient of the Downbeat Critic’s Choice for the Trumpet category. In 1969, Charles formed a quartet called Music Inc. that often featured pianist Stanley Cowell and was on a few occasions expanded to a big band. It became internationally respected for its innovative trumpet quartet approach. During the ’80s and ’90s, he continued touring with Music Inc, and on a number of occasions performed his large ensemble compositions and arrangements as soloist with practically every European Radio / TV Jazz orchestra.
Charles and Stanley founded the Strata East label in 1971, which released many records in the 1970s. Having issued two critically acclaimed big band LPs, Music Inc & Big Band and Impact, now in the new millennium, he once again returned to the big band format. In 2007, he issued on Blue Note Records his big band recording entitled, “With Love” which was immediately Grammy Nominated. The Jazz Journalists Association presented him with the Best Large Ensemble of the Year 2007 award for his new tour de force group The Charles Tolliver Big Band. His newest big band CD Emperor March recorded live at the Blue Note New York City was released in March 2009. Charles Tolliver, whose tone was influenced by Freddie Hubbard while his ideas reflected bits of John Coltrane, has recorded as a leader for Impulse (two songs from a 1965 concert), Black Lion, Enja, and Strata East. Characterised by a strong sense of tradition, Charles Tolliver stated in a Downbeat magazine interview about his approach to improvising that, “I like to rumble. I take the most difficult routes for improvisation. It’s easy to play a number of choruses effortlessly and never make a mistake, never break down. That’s no fun. You need to get in hot water by trying something out right from the jump, get yourself out of that, and move on to the next chorus.”