Label: Gearbox Records, 2020
Personnel - Charles Tolliver: trumpet; Jesse Davis: alto saxophone; Binker Golding: tenor saxophone; Keith Brown: piano; Buster Williams: double bass; Lenny White: drums.
Trumpeter/composer Charles Tolliver, an important and esteemed jazz figure from the 1960’s, continues to stylistically straddling the line between post-bop and avant-garde jazz. Returning to the small ensemble format after years dedicated to big bands, he now releases his first album in 13 years. Here Tolliver presents us with four originals, old and new, which are impeccably tackled with the help of valuable sidemen. He pairs down with alto saxist Jesse Davis in the frontline and appoints Keith Brown, Buster Williams and Lenny White to the piano, bass and drum chair, respectively. Young British tenor player Binker Golding joins them on two tracks.
“Blue Soul” brings us that special vibe of the glorious 1960’s post-bop, sporting booming, primal drums, piano pedals, and horns-driven ecstasy taken to epic crescendos. Straightforward, pristine and unprocessed, this piece features unison melodies in the theme statement and disparate soloing approaches from Davis and Tolliver.
“Emperor March”, a number that gave its title to a big band album recorded live at the Blue Note in 2008, is suffused with harmonic splendor, veering effortlessly and systematically from a modal march to a Latin dance. There’s plenty of time allocated for individual statements from the frontline players and the pianist.
“Copasetic” carries the elation of the hard-bop in its dynamically accentuated melodic lines. Still, there’s a strong modal flavor accompanying the harmonic progression, with veterans Williams and White establishing a top-notch rhythmic tandem as part of their supportive foundation for rambling solos.
The bassist denotes wonderful storytelling capacities as he introduces alone the uptempo “Suspicion”, a piece also featured on Tolliver's 2007 big band record, With Love. Spreading sheer joy while demonstrating athleticism, the group members show an innate, nearly telepathic way of communication. With plenty to discover, let yourself be sucked into a creative vortex that showcases a tantalizing bass figure occasionally matched by a low-register piano riff, an infectious Afro-Cuban rhythm, sinuous unisons, and scorching solos from both saxophonists.
Tolliver knows he doesn’t need ultra-modern aesthetics to make his music sound beautifully. With tremendous breadth and maturity, this is an album where we can reconnect with his music and rediscover his singular points of view.
Grade A-
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Emperor March ► 04 - Suspicion