Strata-East, one of the greatest jazz labels to ever release records, and an imprint that documented a strain of seventies jazz that most of the industry ignored, would not have existed without Charles Tolliver. The trumpeter and composer began the label in 1970 in partnership with pianist Stanley Cowell, and kept it going after Cowel stepped down to concentrate on his own music. Strata-East released several landmarks by Tolliver, Cowell, and others, beginning with Tolliver’s masterpiece Music Inc.. But the trumpeter had to start somewhere, and before he got Strata-East in motion, he released his debut album Charles Tolliver and His All Stars in 1971 on European label Black Lion. (The record came out in the States on Arista Freedom in 1975 as Paper Man.)
Now retitled and back at its natural home, Right Now…and Then features Tolliver backed by a band that truly deserves the name All Stars. Pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer * Joe Chambers* were already well established as leaders and sidepeople; saxophonist Gary Bartz was also a young lion, but fits in as if he’d always been around. Listen to Bartz’s creamy solo on “Lil’s Paradise,” followed immediately by a patented melodic improvisation from Hancock, and the way They bring Tolliver’s moody melody home. “Peace With Myself” and “Right Now” feature sparkling trumpet licks and hot solos from the leader, with Chambers and Carter beguiling the groove at every turn. “Paper Man” borrows a style of chord changes from Hancock and other hard bop kings of the sixties, but it sets up a timeless track with strong solos all ‘round. The fast-paced harmony riffs and bold swing of “Household of Saud” remind listeners that the first music that “bop” started with “be.”
This edition adds a pair of takes of the previously unreleased song “Repetition,” another tune that’s a snapshot of what hard bop was like in the fifties as it transitioned from bebop. Though the album doesn’t capture the distinctive flair that Tolliver would bring to his music starting with Music Inc., it doesn’t matter. Even if Tolliver had continued down the straight hard bop path depicted here, he was so good at it he still would be remembered, major stardom or no.
