Charles Tolliver celebrates Max Roach @ 100 at Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome and Barbican

Self-taught trumpet wizard and virtuoso composer, arranger and Grammy-nominee Charles Tolliver – also the co-founder (alongside with Stanley Cowell) of iconic jazz label STRATA-EAST in 1971, the first artist owned recording company – will play two special UK shows on 18 and 19 November when he appears with an all-star UK/US band to mark the centenary of one of jazz’s greatest drummers, Max Roach.

Roach unarguably sits at the throne of drum percussionists. A quintessential member of the Artform ushered in by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clark, his inimitable style and innovations paved the way for generations of drummers well into the future. Earlier in Tolliver’s career he was invited by Roach to join his group in 1967 and occupied the trumpet chair for some years forming a lifelong musical and personal relationship. 

To honour Max Roach’s 100th, Tolliver stages renditions of quintessential songs from the iconic Max Roach / Clifford Brown quintet albums, and works from the Member’s Don’t Git Weary album he recorded with the drum legend. The powerful line-up includes Tolliver on trumpet, plus drummer Darrell Green; tenor saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman ; alto saxophonist Tony Kofi; pianist Danny Piers and bassist Larry Bartley.

These shows will take place at the Barbican, London on Monday 18 November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival and then at Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome, Brighton on Tuesday 19 November.

For more info visit the Barbican www.barbican.org.uk and Dome websites brightondome.org