Charles Tolliver Big Band-With Love-Jazz

Artist
Charles Tolliver
Album
With Love
Rating
star_rating(6)
Release Date
Jan 16, 2007
Recording Date
Jun 2, 2006 - Jun 3, 2006
Label
Blue Note

by Michael G. Nastos

On the first new release from the Mosaic subsidiary of Blue Note, veteran trumpeter Tolliver finally makes the long awaited big-band recording of the group that has played occasionally in New York City, revived from the remnants of his legendary '70s Music Inc. Orchestra. A bit of the old repertoire ("Mournin' Variations" and "Right Now") and a few former members (Billy Harper, Howard Johnson, Stanley Cowell, Cecil McBee) remain from the group that made powerful albums for the Strata East label. The current 16-piece ensemble, at least for this two-day session, has a rougher edge. The music is exciting, joyous, exuberant, and upbeat, but also displays a dense, sometimes messy persona, and has intonation issues. It makes the music less attractive and inconsistent. But the high points are way up in the stratosphere. "Right Now," most familiar to Tolliver fans, roars in modal juggernaut fashion, laden with staccato accents and deft call-and-response. The singing, sweet title cut gives those not familiar with the raucous dynamic the band usually portrays something more centered and singularly melodic. "Mournin' Variations" is the showstopper: as Craig Handy's oriental-flavored flute line, accented by clarinet and bass clarinet, leads to deep counterpoint, Harper's familiar distinctive and robust tenor soloing, witty trombone from Stafford Hunter, and the always poignant and placid pianistics of the brilliant Cowell. Tolliver's bold arrangement, replete with up-and-down dynamics during "'Round Midnight," indicates this band is not fooling around, and playing for keeps. The closer, a new piece "Hit the Spot," is typically kinetic, and a feature for the always spot-on drumming of Victor Lewis, joined by Handy's clean alto saxophone. This CD was nominated in 2007 for a Grammy award as Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

1 Listen Now! Rejoicin' Tolliver 6:20
2 Listen Now! With Love Tolliver 9:26
3 Listen Now! 'Round Midnight Monk 9:10
4 Listen Now! Mournin' Variations Tolliver 10:57
5 Listen Now! Right Now Tolliver 6:30
6 Listen Now! Suspicion Tolliver 8:37
7 Listen Now! Hit the Spot Tolliver 8:09

Year Type label Catalog #
2007 CD Blue Note
2007 CD Blue Note 69315

Malcolm Addey Audio Engineer, Editing, Engineer, Mastering, Remixing
Chris Albert Group Member, Trumpet
Todd Bashore Clarinet, Group Member, Sax (Alto), Soloist
Angelika Beener Product Manager
Stanley Cowell Group Member, Piano, Soloist
Jimmy Cozier Group Member, Sax (Alto)
Michael Cuscuna A&R, Audio Production, Producer
Joe Fiedler Group Member, Trombone
Clark Gayton Group Member, Trombone
Robert Glasper Group Member, Piano, Soloist
David Guy Group Member, Lead, Trumpet
Craig Handy Clarinet, Flute, Group Member, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Soloist
Billy Harper Group Member, Sax (Tenor), Soloist
Keyon Harrold Group Member, Soloist, Trumpet
Jason Jackson Group Member, Trombone
Gordon H. Jee Creative Director
Aaron Johnson Group Member, Trombone (Bass), Tuba
Howard Johnson Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone)
Howard Glover "Johnny" Johnson Clarinet (Bass), Group Member, Sax (Baritone), Soloist
Keith Karwelies A&R
Jimmy Katz Photography
Victor Lewis Drums, Group Member
Bruce Lundvall Executive Producer
Cecil McBee Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Upright), Group Member, Soloist
Thelonious Monk Composer
Bill Saxton Clarinet, Sax (Tenor), Soloist
Charles Tolliver Arranger, Audio Production, Composer, Conductor, Orchestration, Producer, Soloist, Trumpet
David Weiss Group Member, Trumpet
Burton Yount Design
James Zollar Group Member, Trumpet