Charles Tolliver and his Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell, accompanied by the superb McBee-Hopps rhythm section, are both in absolutely imperious form on these live LPs, recorded in New York in May 1970 and released as two separate albums in 1972.

On the back of the sleeve of the first volume, Tolliver outlined his mission statement: “Music Inc was created out of the desire to assemble men able to see the necessity for survival of a heritage and an Art in the hopes that the sacrifices and high level of communication between them will eventually reach every soul.”

The great trumpeter’s varied 1970s Music Inc ensembles always achieved that noble aim, and nowhere more so than here. Although the audience at Slugs’ is tiny, and not particularly demonstrative, the atmosphere is electric, and the communication between the four musicians on that cramped stage evident for all to hear. The six lengthy numbers here – two taking up entire sides each – represent an apex of 1970s politically-slanted progressive acoustic jazz, as important as the electric experiments being conducted contemporaneously by the likes of Miles Davis (albeit exposed to a far smaller audience here at Slugs’).

Tolliver, McBee and Cowell each contribute a composition to both sets, hinting at a democratic approach, although each composer’s individual characteristics shine through. It’s difficult to choose highlights, but for this writer Tolliver’s ‘Our Second Father’, a powerful and touching tribute to John Coltrane, edges it. Tolliver’s playing here (and on the other five pieces) is simply outstanding – powerful, declamatory yet also tender, demonstrating yet again that this underrated master was, at his peak, one of the most expressive trumpeters in the entire history of jazz.

Beautifully and intimately recorded by Orville O’Brien (the quartet is right in the room with you), both LPs have been sympathetically remastered by Ray Staff at Air and deserve a far wider audience than they had half a century ago. Unreservedly recommended.