PAPATAMUS REDUX

REEL TO REAL (RELEASED NOVEMBER 29, 2024)

In 1972, the jazz world lost trumpeter Lee Morgan. About that same time, one might say we lost Miles Davis to the lure of jazz fusion and Freddie Hubbard to the commercialism of CTI Records. That left Woody Shaw and Charles Tolliver to carry on the tradition of Coltrane-inspired trumpet players. Shaw, who released his masterful Blackstone Legacy recording in 1971 was about to embark on a succession of records for Muse Records, while Tolliver was recording and touring with Music Inc. This recording captures the energy of Tolliver with pianist John Hicks, bassist Clint Houston and drummer Clifford Barbaro from a March 1973 date at Captain’s Cabin in Edmonton, Canada.  The band had been touring Canada and the West Coast and as Tolliver remembers, by the time they got to Edmonton, they were a pretty tight band. “Tight” is exactly what you will hear on this double LP/CD featuring four classic Tolliver originals (“Earl’s World,” “Impact,” “Truth” and “Stretch”) a tune written by Houston (“Black Vibrations”) and a bebop classic from Neal Hefti (“Repetition”). Those familiar with the sound of Music Inc. will know what to expect on this release. Tolliver’s immediately recognizable bursts, flourishes, slurs, runs and growls dominate the session. From his Tyner-ish solo on “Black Vibrations” to his bop lines on “Repetition,” Hick’s skillset is on full display on each and every tune. Houston’s powerful bass lines weave in and out of the melodies and his introduction and extended solo on “Stretch” are icing on the cake. Barbaro’s loose, yet precise, drumming keeps the energy level high throughout the session. Although this is not the original Music Inc. lineup with pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Jimmy Hopps, it is just as fresh, powerful and energetic as those earlier sessions. So much so, that Tolliver would use Houston and Barbaro on his 1974 Live in Tokyo date. This “take no prisoners” date ranks right up there with Charles Tolliver/Music Inc. recordings on his Strata-East label. Kudos to Reel to Real Records for bringing this date to life!

BOTTOM LINE:  Having booked jazz for more than 15 years in my community, you quickly learn that sometimes the magic happens and sometimes it doesn’t. It certainly happened in March 1973 when Marc Vasey booked the Charles Tolliver Quartet at Captain’s Cabin in Edmonton, Canada. From Tolliver’s opening note of “Black Vibration” to the closing bass solo on “Stretch” this is the pure sound of Music Inc. — powerful, bold, energetic, inspiring and unmistakable. Recapture the moment with Live at Captain’s Cabin.