Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-04-18
Photo: Courtesy of Mack Avenue Music Group / Strata-East Records
Mack Avenue Music Group and Strata-East Records will release the vinyl reissue of Charles Tolliver All Stars Right Now... And Then as a Record Store Day exclusive.
Released on audiophile-quality 180-gram vinyl with remixed audio from the original analog multi-track tapes by Charles Tolliver, the legendary trumpet player and composer’s debut album features a who’s who of jazz royalty, including Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Joe Chambers.
Demonstrating Tolliver’s remarkable tone, control, and creativity, his fluidity and lyrical style shine throughout the album, making it an essential addition not only to every Strata-East or jazz listener’s catalog, but to every music lover and vinyl collector’s shelves. The release can be found in participating record stores nationwide and includes new liner notes by Charles Tolliver himself, reflecting on his debut 57 years later.
Listen to Charles Tolliver All Stars: Right Now... And Then
Listen to Strata-East: The Legacy Begins
In partnership with Mack Avenue Music Group, last year Strata-East released 32 historic titles on digital platforms and reissued eight albums to CD and 180-gram vinyl for the first time to widespread acclaim from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mojo, DownBeat, TIDAL, and WRTI.
This series of reissues tells the story of one of jazz’s most iconic labels, founded in resistance to major label restrictions on artistic expression in the 1950s and 1960s. Strata-East’s commitment to freedom and high standards earned it a revered place in jazz history. At last, the original analog tapes have been remastered and reissued to continue that legacy for generations to come.
Mastered by Kevin Gray, the releases were pressed to 180-gram vinyl at RTI with audio cut directly from the original analog tapes. The LPs also include deluxe tip-on gatefold packaging with new liner notes and never-before-seen photos.
As The New York Times stated, “you can’t tell the story of jazz in the 1970s without a serious look at Strata-East,” and Charles Tolliver’s debut is proof of that statement. A masterclass in virtuosity, rhythmic interplay, and soul, the album stands as a historical milestone, setting the stage for one of jazz’s most celebrated trumpet players and one of the most influential artist-owned independent jazz labels in history.
Beyond the horn, Tolliver was also one of the most sought-after composers of his era, with masters such as Max Roach, Andrew Hill, and Jackie McLean recording and performing his music.
Fresh off his recording debut with Jackie McLean, the 26-year-old trumpeter assembled a remarkable group of contemporaries: a 28-year-old Herbie Hancock and 31-year-old Ron Carter, whose time with Miles Davis’ second great quintet was nearing its close, along with rising alto saxophonist Gary Bartz and drummer Joe Chambers, to push the boundaries of hard bop to new heights.
The project captures one of jazz’s most transformative eras, with each voice going on to influence generations of future musicians, both inside and outside the tradition, as figures like Coltrane, Ayler, and Shepp were simultaneously reshaping the avant-garde.
