Charles Tolliver

Charles Tolliver is a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose work bridges Hard Bop, Post Bop, and Spiritual Jazz. His career demonstrates both artistic independence and business acumen: from his early work with Jackie McLean and Max Roach in the mid-1960s to co-founding the influential Strata-East Records label in 1971 with pianist Stanley Cowell. His leadership of the group Music Inc., documented on albums like “Paper Man” and “Impact”, showcased his powerful trumpet tone and compositionally ambitious approach. Strata-East became a crucial outlet for independent Black jazz musicians in the 1970s, releasing seminal albums by artists like Gil Scott-Heron and Cecil McBee. His work as both artist and label owner made him a key figure in the movement toward musician-owned production and distribution during the post-Blue Note era.