Charles Tolliver

Charles Tolliver is a celebrated American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader known for his fiery playing, innovative compositions, and contributions to the post-bop and avant-garde jazz movements. Emerging in the 1960s, Tolliver gained early recognition through work with luminaries like Jackie McLean and Max Roach. He co-founded the influential label Strata-East Records in 1971 with pianist Stanley Cowell — a pioneering artist-run imprint that became a cornerstone for independent Black jazz artists during the 1970s.

Tolliver's music blends hard bop, free jazz, and sophisticated orchestration, often delivering tightly arranged compositions alongside explosive improvisation. Albums like Paper Man, The Ringer, and more recently Connect show his enduring creativity and power as a bandleader. Whether leading his big band or his long-running quartet Music Inc., Charles Tolliver remains a vital voice in modern jazz, with a career that reflects both artistic integrity and a deep commitment to musical innovation.

Genres

Hard Bop

Free Jazz

Jazz

Contemporary Jazz

Fusion Music

Avant-garde Jazz

Big Band

Post-bop

Soul Jazz

Experimental Jazz

Related Artists

Donald Byrd

Freddie Hubbard

Lee Morgan

Kenny Dorham

Wynton Marsalis

Roy Hargrove

Blue Mitchell

Clifford Brown

Terence Blanchard

Art Farmer

Woody Shaw

Wallace Roney

Latest Release

Live at the Captain's Cabin

Charles Tolliver

Album - 7 Tracks - Released November 29, 2024