Johan Budi
The landscape of contemporary jazz continues to be shaped by a dual commitment to historical preservation and radical experimentation, as evidenced by three significant releases that span over half a century of musical evolution. From the archival resurgence of Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Music Inc to the avant-garde explorations of Nicolas Leirtrø’s Action Now! and Javon Jackson’s reinterpretation of the Bob Dylan songbook, these recordings highlight the enduring relevance of jazz as a medium for social commentary and technical mastery. These works, recorded between 1970 and 2025, offer a comprehensive look at how the genre handles the "ownership of the means of musical production," the intensity of modern improvisation, and the delicate art of the tribute.
The Reclamation of Artistic Autonomy: Tolliver and Cowell’s Music Inc
The 1970s represented a transformative era for African American artists, marked by a shift toward self-determination and the establishment of independent platforms. Central to this movement was the partnership between trumpeter Charles Tolliver and pianist Stanley Cowell, who founded Strata-East Records. Their ensemble, Music Inc, was not merely a musical group but a statement on the necessity of Black-run artistic ventures during the height of the Black Power movement.
The recent focus on their 1970 recording session in New York reveals a complex interplay between a core quartet and an expanded 13-piece orchestra. The quartet—featuring Tolliver, Cowell, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Jimmy Hopps—was augmented by legendary figures such as Jimmy Heath and Howard Johnson. This arrangement was designed to embed the quartet within a larger sonic framework, though the resulting music often felt more like a confrontation than a traditional accompaniment.
Chronology and Context of the 1970 Session
Recorded on November 11, 1970, the Music Inc sessions occurred at a time when the jazz world was grappling with the transition from hard-bop to more avant-garde and fusion-oriented styles. While the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra had set a standard for big band sophistication three years prior, Tolliver and Cowell opted for a "hard-as-granite" sound. Analysts suggest this was an intentional departure from the polished swing of the era, reflecting the grit and urgency of the societal shifts occurring in urban America.
The tracks on this release, including Ruthie’s Heart, Brilliant Circles, and On The Nile, showcase a band that refused to be restrained by its own orchestration. In Household Of Saud, the quartet appears to struggle against the weight of the larger ensemble, which Tolliver’s arrangements occasionally treat as a "giant shackle." This tension is a defining characteristic of the recording, symbolizing the struggle of the individual artist against institutional structures.
Contemporary Intensity in the Nordic Scene: Nicolas Leirtrø’s Action Now!
Moving from the historical archives of New York to the contemporary hotbeds of European jazz, Norwegian bassist Nicolas Leirtrø’s new project, Entrance, provides a stark contrast in methodology and tone. Recorded in Trondheim in May 2025, the album by the quartet Action Now! represents the cutting edge of modern "free-ish" jazz.
Leirtrø, a prominent figure in the Norwegian improvisational circuit, has assembled a team of "manically restless spirits," including organist Kit Downes, drummer Veslemøy Narvesen, and the veteran saxophonist Mats Gustafsson. The group’s name, punctuated with an exclamation mark, serves as a manifesto for their high-energy, uncompromising approach to sound.
Technical Mastery and Sonic Exploration
The recording is characterized by what critics describe as "clamorous energies." Unlike the structured tension of Tolliver’s big band, Action Now! thrives on the brink of total anarchy, though it remains tethered by the extreme technical proficiency of its members.
- Instrumental Innovation: Mats Gustafsson, primarily known for his baritone saxophone work, delivers a "virtuoso belabouring" of the flute on Pitch Black White Noise. This track highlights the band’s focus on "gut ’n’ wood" sounds, prioritizing texture and physical resonance over traditional melody.
- The Organ-Sax Tandem: The interaction between Kit Downes’ organ and Gustafsson’s baritone sax on Errantry and Darkness creates a sonic environment that alternates between concordant harmony and "Inquisitional torment."
- Rhythmic Control: Drummer Veslemøy Narvesen is credited with maintaining the fire within these compositions, particularly on the title track Action Now, where the rhythm section manages to transition from heavy-duty intensity to delicate, Debussy-like piano adumbrations.
The release on Sauajazz (SAU011) underscores the continued vitality of the Trondheim jazz scene, which has become a global center for experimental music that rejects "backward-looking" aesthetics.
Reimagining the American Songbook: Javon Jackson Plays Dylan
While Leirtrø pushes into the future, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson looks to the past through a unique lens. Jackson, a former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, recently recorded a tribute to Bob Dylan in New York (November 18, 2025). This project, titled Jackson Plays Dylan, tackles the inherent difficulty of translating Dylan’s lyric-heavy compositions into the language of instrumental jazz.
Bob Dylan’s catalog is often considered the exclusive property of the composer due to the inseparable nature of his words and melodies. Jackson’s quartet, featuring pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist Isaac Levien, and drummer Ryan Sands, attempts to "restyle" these classics without losing their essential social justice underpinnings.
The Role of Vocalists and Arrangement Choices
To bridge the gap between Dylan’s poetry and Jackson’s tenor, the album enlists two prominent vocalists:
- Lisa Fischer: Provides a "smoky-smooth" rendition of Gotta Serve Somebody.
- Nicole Zuraitis: Delivers a "quiet sincerity" on Forever Young.
The inclusion of these vocal tracks highlights the challenges Jackson faced. On purely instrumental tracks like Blowin’ In The Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin’, Jackson adopts a reverent, often unadorned approach. While some analysts argue this reverence occasionally borders on being overly cautious, others point to the subtle keyboard effects by Jeremy Manasia on Hurricane as a successful modernization of Dylan’s folk-rock aesthetic.
The album also includes an original composition, One For Bob Dylan, which serves as a genuine salute to Dylan’s influence on American culture. This track, while not mimicking Dylan’s style, aligns with the spirit of the project—acknowledging the intersection of folk, rock, and jazz as tools for social reflection.
Broader Impact and Implications for the Jazz Industry
The release of these three albums—spanning 55 years of recording history—offers several insights into the current state of the jazz industry and its future trajectory.
The Importance of Independent Labels
Both the Strata-East legacy (re-invigorated by Mack Avenue) and the contemporary Sauajazz and Solid Jackson Records labels emphasize the importance of independent ownership. For Tolliver and Cowell in 1970, this was about racial and economic empowerment. For Leirtrø and Jackson in 2025, it remains a vital necessity to ensure that uncompromising or niche artistic visions reach an audience without the diluting influence of major corporate interests.
Social Justice as a Recurring Theme
From the Black Power roots of Music Inc to Javon Jackson’s admiration for Bob Dylan’s social justice themes, jazz remains inextricably linked to the political and social climate. Even the "Action Now!" ethos of Leirtrø can be seen as a response to contemporary anxieties, using sound as a "musical antidote to unease."
Chronological Data and Discographical Information
| Artist | Album Title | Recording Date | Label | Key Personnel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tolliver & Cowell | Music Inc | Nov 11, 1970 | Mack Avenue/Strata-East | McBee, Hopps, Heath |
| Nicolas Leirtrø | Entrance | May 2025 | Sauajazz | Downes, Gustafsson, Narvesen |
| Javon Jackson | Jackson Plays Dylan | Nov 18, 2025 | Solid Jackson/Palmetto | Fischer, Zuraitis, Manasia |
Conclusion: The Enduring Vanguard
The study of these three distinct works reveals a genre that is far from stagnant. Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s archival recordings remind us of the power of the big band when infused with the urgency of social change. Nicolas Leirtrø’s Action Now! demonstrates that the pursuit of new textures and "pitch black white noise" remains a potent force in European improvisation. Finally, Javon Jackson’s tribute to Bob Dylan illustrates the ongoing dialogue between jazz and the broader American musical canon.
As these recordings circulate through the global jazz community, they serve as a reminder that whether the year is 1970 or 2025, the core tenets of the genre—innovation, ownership, and an unwavering response to the world at large—remain unchanged. The "societal legacies" mentioned in the context of Music Inc continue to be renewed by each subsequent generation of musicians who find in jazz the perfect vehicle for "action now."
