Charles Tolliver
Event held
Charles Tolliver Africa/Brass Celebrating Coltrane's Centennial
Charles Tolliver (trumpet, conductor), Camille Thurman (tenor saxophone, vocals), Darrell Green (drums), Antonio Faraò (piano), Chris Dahlgren (double bass)
Musikene Big Band: Eneko Diéguez (alto saxophone, piccolo, clarinet), Antonio Lozano (tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet), Miguel Velasco (baritone saxophone, flute, bass clarinet), Nicolás Chasco, Alessio Lubrano (trumpets); Galder Oneca, Ariadna Alcober, Alba Castellanos, Erika Martínez (horns); Aníbal Andrés (euphonium), Ander Caro, Asier Iturbe (trombones); Aránzazu Rodríguez (tuba), Miguel López (assistant director)
A self-taught, absolute master of his craft, deeply committed to the essence of African-American Jazz, Charles Tolliver is one of the great trumpeters, composers and arrangers of our era, a musician who, throughout a career spanning more than six decades, has managed to preserve the legacy of John Coltrane and the sound of his album, Africa/Brass (1961).
In the 1960s, Tolliver worked with legendary figures such as Jackie McLean, Art Blakey and Sonny Rollins. He was also part of Gerald Wilson's orchestra, where he met Roy Ayers, and was a member of Max Roach's quintet, with whom he recorded Members Don't Get Weary (1968). He later created the Music Inc. Quartet with Stanley Cowell, with whom he founded Strata-East Records, one of the most influential independent labels in the history of Jazz, a true standard bearer of post-bop and the avant-garde of the 1970s.
True to his spirit of creative independence, Tolliver has forged a long and fruitful career at the helm of large ensembles, combining energy, sophistication and risk. With Love (2007), nominated for a Grammy for Best Jazz Big Band, and Emperor March: Live at the Blue Note (2009), are two works of his that leave no doubt as to his absolute mastery of orchestral language.
In 2026, John Coltraine would have turned 100. To commemorate this, Tolliver has decided to rework and reinterpret Africa/Brass (1961), one of the masterpieces by one of the greatest musicians in the history of Jazz. Tolliver will be accompanied by four excellent musicians and a big band: the brilliant saxophonist and vocalist, Camille Thurman; the powerful drummer, Darrell Green; the virtuosity and boundless creativity of Antonio Faraò on piano; the depth and expressiveness of Chris Dahlgren on double bass; and the energy and skill of the promising students from Musikene Big Band.
A unique opportunity to take in and enjoy one of the great visionaries of contemporary Jazz paying tribute to John Coltrane. A unique, once-in-a-lifetime concert experience.
