Jun 10, 2025 4:13 PM
Theo Croker’s Dream … Manifested!
Partway through his early set at Smoke Jazz Club, Theo Croker blinks the room back into focus. He leans over the piano.…
New York’s Jazz Standard will present the reunited Charles Tolliver Big Band, Sept. 27–28.
Joining Tolliver for five sets will be trumpeters Jon Faddis, David Guy, Keyon Harrold and David Weiss, trombonists Clark Gayton, Jason Jackson and Aaron Johnson, saxophonists Gary Bartz, James Spaulding, Gary Thomas, Craig Handy and Howard Johnson, pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Billy Drummond.
After starting on the cornet at 8 years old, the former pharmacy student started his career as a jazz trumpeter with Jackie McLean in the ‘60s. Since then, he has performed or recorded with many jazz greats including Roy Haynes, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Andrew Hill, Art Blakey and Max Roach.
In 1971, Tolliver and Stanley Cowell formed Strata-East Records, one of the first independent, artist-owned jazz labels, and released more than five albums leading his band, Music Inc.
As DownBeat contributor Ray Townley puts it, “Tolliver’s horn style is possessed of a melodic warmth and compactness of expression shared by few other trumpeters.”
For more information, visit www.jazzstandard.net
To record Dream Manifest (Dom Recs), Croker convened artists from his current and recent past ensembles, plus special guests.
Jun 10, 2025 4:13 PM
Partway through his early set at Smoke Jazz Club, Theo Croker blinks the room back into focus. He leans over the piano.…
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