This superb 1974-released live album, recorded on Music Inc’s first Japanese tour, begins in the most Tolliveresque way possible – with a powerful, declamatory trumpet blast on the opening ‘Drought’; and from then on, the tempo never lets up.

On the first side are two exceptional original Tolliver compositions, the aforementioned ‘Drought’ and ‘Stretch’, with its compelling walking bassline, and which is initially punctuated with spare, elliptical contributions from the trumpeter and pianist Stanley Cowell. Both men understand the value of holding back, of creating space. As a result, ‘Stretch’ builds over its 11 minutes towards a thrilling, swinging climax, and this demonstrates that very often it’s not what you play, but what you don’t play that really matters.

Side Two begins with another Tolliver composition, the lovely ‘Truth’, while Cowell’s ‘Efpi’, with its splendid extended bass solo, rounds off the concert.

Except that it didn’t, because Music Inc were called back for an encore – and they proceeded to perform a quite extraordinary cover of ‘Round Midnight’, which the ensemble attack with a gusto that verges on the positively aggressive.

All four players excel, notably the trumpeter’s musical and business partner Cowell, and Clint Houston, whose relentless, roiling bass provides the perfect backdrop for the leader, pianist and drummer.

Live in Tokyo is exceptionally powerful acoustic hard bop, easily the equal of the electric and fusion experiments of the time – and proof positive that Tolliver, who astutely (and acutely) combined the best of both traditional swing and experimental jazz throughout the 1970s, remains one of the music’s great – and most underrated – heroes.