Through a recently announced partnership with Strata-East Records, Mack Avenue Music Group releases audiophile quality reissues of Charles Tolliver & Music Inc.’s Live at Slugs’, Volume I & II, and Stanley Cowell’s Musa: Ancestral Streams, and Charlie Rouse’s Two Is One. The three albums are available today on 180-gram vinyl, CD and digital platforms. Pharoah Sanders’ Izipho Zam (My Gifts), which was released on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 12, 2025, is also available today on CD and digital.
Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) on 180-gram vinyl and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio with audio cut directly from the original analog tapes, the vinyl editions come in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets.
Also available today, for the first time ever, are 32 albums from the Strata-East catalog on all digital platforms, in the highest-resolution available for these releases.
Charles Brackeen | Rhythm X
The Brass Company & Bill Lee | Colors
Stanley Cowell | Regeneration
Stanley Cowell | Such Great Friends (feat. Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Billy Hart)
The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe & Bill Lee | A Spirit Speaks
Shamek Farrah | First Impressions
Shamek Farrah, Sonelius Smith | The World of the Children
John Gordon | Step by Step
Billy Harper | Capra Black
The Heath Brothers | Marchin’ On! (feat. Stanley Cowell)
John Hicks | Hells Bells
John Hicks | Steadfast
Clifford Jordan | Glass Bead Games
Cecil McBee | Mutima
The New York Bass Violin Choir & Bill Lee | The New York Bass Violin Choir
Billy Parker | Freedom of Speech
Cecil Payne | Zodiac
The Piano Choir | Handscapes
The Piano Choir | Handscapes 2
Charles Tolliver | Charles Tolliver All Stars: Right Now…And Then
Charles Tolliver | Live in Berlin at the Quasimodo
Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell | Music Inc
Charles Tolliver & Music Inc | Compassion
Charles Tolliver & Music Inc | Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival
Charles Tolliver & Music Inc | Live in Tokyo
Charles Tolliver & Music Inc Orchestra | Impact
Various Artists | Strata-East: The Legacy Begins
Harold Vick | Don’t Look Back
ABOUT THE ALBUMS
For the first time ever, Charles Tolliver and Music Inc’s Live at Slugs’, Volume I & II is released together in one set, presenting the full power of these historic performances in a unified collection. Recorded live in 1970 at the legendary Slugs' in New York City, the albums feature Tolliver’s fiery trumpet alongside an all-star lineup: Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jimmy Hopps on drums. These high-energy recordings capture the raw intensity and innovation of the Music Inc quartet, showcasing their technical brilliance and cohesive interplay. Remastered in stunning detail, this release unites two of the most celebrated live albums in jazz history for the first time on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. The digital release features 3 never-before-released bonus tracks, totaling 41 minutes of unreleased music. The vinyl release also includes new liner notes by Marcus J. Moore and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Featuring stunning solo piano work by Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell, Musa: Ancestral Streams is a landmark album in jazz, celebrated for its intimacy and innovation. Recorded in 1974, it stands as one of the most significant solo piano albums of its time, blending jazz with classical, African, and Eastern influences. Cowell’s pioneering use of both electric and acoustic piano expands the expressive range of the instrument, creating a deeply personal and spiritual experience. Musa: Ancestral Streams is a cornerstone of the Strata-East discography, reflecting the label’s commitment to artistic freedom and genre-defining works. It not only highlights Cowell’s extraordinary vision as a musician but also exemplifies Strata-East’s role in championing boundary-pushing, artist-produced records. For the first time ever, this pioneering solo work from the famed pianist will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. The digital release features an alternate take on the classic “Travelin’ Man” as well as 3 additional never-before-released bonus tracks. The vinyl edition also includes new liner notes by Nate Chinen and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Charlie Rouse’s groundbreaking album Two Is One is a funk-infused exploration of jazz that embodies the innovative spirit of Strata-East Records. Originally recorded in 1974 and transferred from the original analog tapes, Two Is One fuses sophisticated soul jazz with post-bop and spiritual influences while highlighting stellar collaborations with guitarists George Davis and Paul Metzke, Cal Scott on electrified cello, and the incomparable Stanley Clarke on electric bass. For the first time ever, this classic from a saxophone legend will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. It also includes new liner notes by Syd Schwartz and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Izipho Zam (My Gifts) is a groundbreaking jazz masterpiece. Recorded in 1969, two years after John Coltrane's passing, and released in 1973 on Strata-East, the album features a 13-member ensemble, including Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Liston Smith, Cecil McBee, and Leon Thomas. Blending Eastern influences with expansive jazz, Sanders’ genius is highlighted with "Prince of Peace,” showcasing Thomas' unique vocals, and the 28-minute title track, offering an exploration of dissonance and harmony with West African percussion and meditative chants. For the first time ever, this seminal work from a legendary saxophonist will be available on CD and digital platforms as well as on 180-gram vinyl, which features new liner notes by Syd Schwartz.
