Charles Tolliver: With Love

Tolliver's writing shows an influence from Gerald Wilson, with whom he worked in the late 1960s. His trumpet soloing comes from the straight-ahead forces pioneered by Dizzy Gillespie and expands intuitively through personal experience.

Tolliver, who's 64, fronts his resurrected big band with a unique trumpet voice and highly charged energy. Like Gillespie, he encourages the band through example. You can quickly imagine the sweat pouring off his face and muscles throughout his body tightening as he reaches out with a thrilling personal message. Tolliver sacrifices technique for spirit. He's convincing with his deeply felt lyricism and waterfall cascades of legato 16th notes. Up and down, around and through, the trumpeter sings out instrumentally from the bottom of his heart.

The band follows his lead with fiery counterpoint and inspired soloing from individual members. Both pianists contribute incredible thrills, while others pour out streams that echo the bandleader's enthusiasm. "Mournin' Variations stands out as the album's high point, issuing a powerful statement that is couched between gentler opening and closing statements that feature Howard Johnson and Craig Handy. Johnson returns with a frenzied baritone saxophone romp on "Right Now, reminding us that big band jazz continues to bring out the best from all parties concerned when it features creative voices.