CHARLES TOLLIVER MUSIC INC.

LIVE AT THE CAPTAIN’S CABIN

Reel to Real Records

Charles Tolliver, trumpet/composer; John Hicks, piano; Clint Houston, bass; Cliff Barbaro, drums.

The first thing that snatches my attention on Disc #2 of this double CD set is the exciting interplay between John Hicks on piano and Clint Houston on double bass, while Charles Tolliver, with his warm, wonderful tone, sooths and sells the song using his trumpet dexterity. The tune is called “Truth” and the way these four musicians are synced together, shiny as an expensive string of pearls, is truly amazing. Tolliver plays the melody, but Houston has his own bass melodic flow as part of the rhythm section. They are a tight unit without boundaries.  I had to play this particular original tune by Tolliver twice.  There was just so much creativity and beauty inside the quartet’s arrangement that I needed to listen to it a second time.

Charles Tolliver explains, “It was a wild period, and we played wild.”

Tolliver is referring to this 1973 concert captured “Live” at the Captain’s Cabin.  You certainly hear the turmoil and robust energy in the quartet’s portrayal of Neal Hefti’s tune, “Repetition.”

I hear passion, pride, high energy and mad creativity blowing from the bell of Tolliver’s horn, on this tune and on his own compositions.  He seems to be reaching for some unseen plateau, admirably accompanied by his awesome bandmates. They play with as much enthusiasm and empowerment that their leader exudes.  I am mesmerized!

Charles Tolliver became very visible when he was appearing in Jackie McLean’s band.  Then, in 1971, he founded a black-owned jazz label called Strata-East that became a nexus for hard bop and spiritual jazz.  He partnered with piano genius, Stanley Cowell.  Tolliver learned from esteemed and legendary musicians like McLean, Horace Silver and Max Roach.  He has always been fluent in composing, arranging and dynamic when performing. You clearly hear that during this impactful ‘live’ recording.

On Track #3 of the 2^nd disc called, “Stretch” the quartet gives Clint Houston several moments to solo on his bass without accompaniment or additional instrumentation. Sometimes there is the whisper of Hicks on piano in the background, but mostly the bassist soaks up the spotlight like a sponge.  His tone and adventure on the bass is a hypnotic experience.

Disc #1 opens with “Black Vibrations.”  I listen to the way the four members of Tolliver’s band interact with each other.  Their cohesive spontaneity is the sign of a group that has played together for some time. They find great freedom, comfort and trust interacting with each other.

Tolliver’s roots are bebop, but you hear the experimentation and jazz-funk, jazz-rock style woven into their musical expressions. Hicks burns a hole in the piano keys.  He is definitely on fire. Cliff Barbaro matches his intensity on drums. Charles Tolliver is always the meteorite streaking across the Captain’s Cabin with all the strength and sparkle of talent that a true jazz genius brings to our universe. This is an album I will treasure and listen to time after time after time.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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