Charles Tolliver - Mosaic Select 20 [2005] (3 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

CHARLES TOLLIVER

Charles Tolliver - Mosaic Select 20 [2005] (3 x CDs)

Mosaic Select 20, released in 2005 as a limited three‑CD set, presents a concentrated view of Charles Tolliver’s work for Strata‑East during the first half of the seventies. The collection draws from albums originally issued between 1970 and 1973, including Music Inc., Live at Slugs’, and Impact, each sourced from the label’s master tapes and restored with Mosaic’s familiar attention to discographical detail. The set carries the catalogue number MS‑020 and was pressed in a numbered run, making complete copies a valued item among collectors who follow Strata‑East’s history.

The first disc highlights Tolliver’s studio work, where his trumpet lines move with clarity and purpose. His compositions favour strong melodic shapes supported by rhythmic patterns that shift between hard bop drive and open, modal spaces. The ensemble, built around Stanley Cowell’s piano, Cecil McBee’s bass and Jimmy Hopps’ drums, plays with a balance of structure and freedom, giving the music a sense of forward motion without sacrificing nuance. The original LPs were known for their warm, slightly raw sound, and Mosaic’s mastering preserves that character while bringing out instrumental detail.

The second disc focuses on the Live at Slugs’ material, recorded in 1970 and originally released on two separate Strata‑East LPs. These performances show the group at full stretch, with extended improvisations that reveal Tolliver’s command of dynamics and pacing. The live setting adds intensity, shaped by Cowell’s harmonic imagination and McBee’s deep, resonant tone. The interplay feels conversational, guided by musicians who understood how to build tension gradually.

The final disc gathers later studio recordings, including selections from Impact, issued in 1972. These tracks show Tolliver refining his compositional voice, using tighter arrangements and more pronounced ensemble writing. The brass and reed voicings add colour, while the rhythm section maintains the group’s characteristic blend of precision and openness.

Mosaic Select 20 stands as a clear, respectful document of Tolliver’s early seventies work, preserving a vital chapter in independent jazz history. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Charles Tolliver - Drought 9:22

02 Charles Tolliver - Felicite 8:25

03 Charles Tolliver - Orientale 17:37

04 Charles Tolliver - Spanning 8:26

05 Charles Tolliver - Wilpan's 10:37

06 Charles Tolliver - Our Second Father 13:23

CD2

01 Charles Tolliver - Drought 12:22

02 Charles Tolliver - Stretch 10:42

03 Charles Tolliver - Truth 7:07

04 Charles Tolliver - Effi 10:46

05 Charles Tolliver - 'Round Midnight 8:38

CD3

01 Charles Tolliver - On The Nile 13:34

02 Charles Tolliver - Ruthie's Heart 18:46

03 Charles Tolliver - Repetition 8:52

04 Charles Tolliver - Impact 7:33

05 Charles Tolliver - Our Second Father 20:16

06 Charles Tolliver - Earl's World 6:24

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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