Charles Tolliver Music Inc.: Live at the Captain's Cabin

Charles Tolliver's Live at the Captain's Cabin is a previously unheard two-CD set captured at an intimate venue in Edmonton, Alberta, on June 24, 1973, produced for release on Reel to Real Recordings by tenor saxophonist and jazz entrepreneur Cory Weeds. The synergy and spontaneity heard in this session can only come from a group accustomed to the rigours of the road. With no prior intention to record, trumpeter Tolliver and his quartet, comprised of pianist John Hicks, bassist Clint Houston and drummer Cliff Barbaro, present a tour de force that captures the intersection of bebop, modal jazz and avant-garde stylings.

There are only seven tracks spread over the two CDs, with the music consisting of a mixture of previously recorded and new compositions, all penned by Tolliver except for "Black Vibrations," written by Houston, and the Neal Hefti jazz standard "Repetition." Disc one opens with the previously noted Houston number, taken at warp speed and full throttle. Tolliver's trumpet displays speed and upper register ferocity as he shifts from bebop lines to exploratory modal phrases. Hicks's piano mirrors Tolliver's boldness with a percussiveness that adds depth to the quartet's sound. Composer Houston's bass lines pulse with an organic quality, and Barbaro's drumming has an explosive energy that courses through the number. The first of the Tolliver compositions is "Earl's World." Following a robust rhythmic foundation from Houston, Hicks builds his extensive solo on layered chords that are flush with the heat of abstraction. Tolliver delivers a feverish range of exploratory choruses over the groove. The closing track is called "Compassion," a mid-tempo waltz and an unexpected change of pace. Hicks offers a very lyrical opening providing a segue for Tolliver as he glides through the chart with precision and polish. Houston and Barbaro are a grounding force that holds the number together.

Disc two continues the sonic bath, with Tolliver's trumpet as the focal point, delivering articulation and clarity with aggressive yet disciplined phrasing. Neal Hefti's "Repetition," which became part of Charlie Parker's repertoire, is given a Tolliver makeover at breakneck speed. He and Hicks stretch and bend the number with a fieriness that requires on-the-spot attentiveness. Houston and Barbaro set the pace without faltering. The closer is "Stretch," a bebop-inspired line that fully engages the band. The number captures the electricity when skilled musicians channel their collective interaction into a seamless, unbridled performance.

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