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Image: Charles Tolliver. Credit: Jimmy Katz.
Charles Tolliver, entirely self-taught, is a remarkable talent who has gained an outstanding reputation as a trumpetist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1942, his musical career began at the age of eight when his beloved grandmother, Lela, presented him with his first instrument, a cornet, and the inspiration to learn.
After a few years of college majoring in pharmacy at Howard University, and formulating his trumpet style, Charles began his professional career with the saxophone giant Jackie McLean. Making his recording debut with McLean on Blue Note Records in 1964, Charles has since recorded and/or performed with such renowned artists as Roy Haynes, Hank Mobley, Willie Bobo, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Booker Ervin, Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Oliver Nelson, Andrew Hill, Louis Hayes, Roy Ayers, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, and Max Roach.
In 1969, he formed the quartet Music Inc. which has become internationally respected for its innovative trumpet quartet approach. Charles and his Music Inc., have toured in North and South America, Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan, performing at festivals, concerts, and on radio and television stations. In 1970, he and his alter ego fellow musician artist Stanley Cowell created Strata-East Records which he has steadfastly kept alive straight into the present. During the ’80s and ’90s he continued touring with Music Inc. and on a number of occasions performed his large ensemble compositions and arrangements as soloist with practically every European Radio/TV Jazz orchestra. Having already issued on his Strata-East label two critically acclaimed big band LPs, Music Inc. & Big Band and Impact, he once again returned to the big band format in the 2000’s. In 2007 he issued his big band recording, With Love, on Blue Note Records which was immediately Grammy nominated.
In addition to his Grammy nomination, The Jazz Journalists Association presented him with the “Best Large Ensemble of the Year 2007” award for his tour de force group The Charles Tolliver Big Band. Charles has been a recipient of the Downbeat magazine’s Critic’s Choice for the Trumpet category.
In a reenactment & presentation for the 50th anniversary celebration of Thelonious Monk’s historic 1959 Town Hall concert, he was featured performing his definitive transcription of the lost scores of arranger Hal Overton’s orchestrations of Thelonious’ music exactly as it was performed and recorded for the original concert. His newest big band CD, Emperor March, recorded live at the Blue Note New York City, was released in March 2009.
Charles has perfected an extremely individual and distinctive sound which clearly sets him apart from other trumpet players. Characterized by a strong sense of tradition, he said in a recent Downbeat magazine interview about his approach to improvising that, “I like to rumble. I take the most difficult routes for improvisation. It’s easy to play a number of choruses effortlessly and never make a mistake, never break down. That’s no fun. You need to get in hot water by trying something out right from the jump, get yourself out of that, and move on to the next chorus.”
*Bio from Award presentation.
View a tribute video to 2019 Living Legacy Jazz Award Presented by PECO Honoree Charles Tolliver.
Bio Credit: https://charlestolliver.com/biography/