Strata-East records

[Head Man]

Does anyone know why so few of the releases on this label are currently available on CD? Even the ones that are only seem to be available in Japan. I'm currently listening to a needle drop of the John Gordon album 'Step by Step' which is excellent but I can't buy it on CD because it has never been reissued (I think!)....strange...and sad!

[Chuck Nessa]

As I understand it, most of the masters were owned by the artists, not the label.

[felser]

Does anyone know why so few of the releases on this label are currently available on CD? Even the ones that are only seem to be available in Japan. I'm currently listening to a needle drop of the John Gordon album 'Step by Step' which is excellent but I can't buy it on CD because it has never been reissued (I think!)....strange...and sad!

Don't miss the Charles Tolliver Mosaic Select, which contains three full albums of prime live Music Inc (both Slugs volumes plus Tokyo) material plus a ton of previous unreleased bonus material. Charly released some Strata-East stuff (Pharoah Sanders Izipho Zam and Clifford Jordan Glass Bead Games and some Stanley Cowell and John Hicks), but I think there are questions on the licensing. Warren Smith got his Composers Workshop Ensemble Strata-East stuff out on a 2CD set on the Claves label. Dick Griffin's Strata-East album is out on CD on Konnex (don't know if it is still in print). Charles Tolliver's Live in Loosdrecht came out out on Black Lion with the title "Grand Max". Gil Scott-Heron got "Winter in America" with bonus cuts out on TVT.

Edited August 16, 2010 by felser

[J.A.W.]

Strata East was formed by Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell, back in 1971. According to Michael Cuscuna's notes to the Tolliver Mosaic Select the recordings are owned by the artists themselves, so maybe that's the reason why so few have been released on CD. Apart from the Tolliver Mosaic, I have only one Strata East album on CD, Clifford Jordan's Glass Bead Games, which was issued by the Japanese Bomba label.

(edit)

See felser's post above for more info

[J.A.W.]

Wikipedia (with discography - for what it's worth )

[Head Man]

I do own quite a few Strata-East albums including most of the ones you mention, Felser; plus the Charles Tolliver's Mosaic boxset. However if the artists themselves own the recordings then I guess that's why there's been no proper re-issue programme. It can't be easy to organise one-off deals to get the music out.

[clifford_thornton]

I get the feeling that a lot of those P-Vine Japanese CDs are bootlegs.

[Head Man]

I get the feeling that a lot of those P-Vine Japanese CDs are bootlegs.

You're probably right...but they're nicely done, nevertheless.

[Bill B]

I do own quite a few Strata-East albums including most of the ones you mention, Felser; plus the Charles Tolliver's Mosaic boxset. However if the artists themselves own the recordings then I guess that's why there's been no proper re-issue programme. It can't be easy to organise one-off deals to get the music out.

FWIW, The Strata Web site recently reported that Tolliver's "Paper Man" was to released as part of a multi-disk set in the future.

[romualdo]

bought three Strata East CD's from Japan last month ie

Billy Harper's Capra Black & Charles Tolliver's Music Inc & Impact - all with great sound (Bomba label - 24bit remastered)

HMV Japan have them on special at present (between 1600 & 1800yen) - there is a reasonable range of Strata Easts though not comprehensive

Regarding the MS Tolliver box - hasn't Michael Cuscuna mentioned that they are considering releasing a further MS box in the future?

Clifford Jordan's Glass Bead Games has been released by the Harvestsong label (Canadian?) - this is an official release via Clifford Jordan's wife (who had the tapes) - can only get it through Cadence as far as I am aware

Edited August 17, 2010 by romualdo

[BFrank]

FWIW (and slightly off-topic), Tolliver's "The Ringer" on Black Lion and "Impact" on Enja are available on eMusic.

[clifford_thornton]

The Ringer is a favorite.

[felser]

The Ringer is a favorite.

For me also. If I could only own one Tolliver (a sad thought), that would be the one.

[felser]

I do own quite a few Strata-East albums including most of the ones you mention, Felser; plus the Charles Tolliver's Mosaic boxset. However if the artists themselves own the recordings then I guess that's why there's been no proper re-issue programme. It can't be easy to organise one-off deals to get the music out.

FWIW, The Strata Web site recently reported that Tolliver's "Paper Man" was to released as part of a multi-disk set in the future.

That website has listed that album as "coming soon" for the four years I've been checking it. Do they have something that is newer info somewhere? I did notice the website showed a 2010 update date.

[ep1str0phy]

Does anyone know why so few of the releases on this label are currently available on CD? Even the ones that are only seem to be available in Japan. I'm currently listening to a needle drop of the John Gordon album 'Step by Step' which is excellent but I can't buy it on CD because it has never been reissued (I think!)....strange...and sad!

I'm not sure about the provenance or even if my memory is a little clouded, but I feel pretty certain that I saw a CD copy of Step By Step in the LA Amoeba several years back. It could have been an import, if the artificially high used CD price was any indication.

[Chas]

Does anyone know why so few of the releases on this label are currently available on CD? Even the ones that are only seem to be available in Japan. I'm currently listening to a needle drop of the John Gordon album 'Step by Step' which is excellent but I can't buy it on CD because it has never been reissued (I think!)....strange...and sad!

I'm not sure about the provenance or even if my memory is a little clouded, but I feel pretty certain that I saw a CD copy of Step By Step in the LA Amoeba several years back. It could have been an import, if the artificially high used CD price was any indication.

It was out on German label Bellaphon a long time ago.

[felser]

Does anyone know why so few of the releases on this label are currently available on CD? Even the ones that are only seem to be available in Japan. I'm currently listening to a needle drop of the John Gordon album 'Step by Step' which is excellent but I can't buy it on CD because it has never been reissued (I think!)....strange...and sad!

I'm not sure about the provenance or even if my memory is a little clouded, but I feel pretty certain that I saw a CD copy of Step By Step in the LA Amoeba several years back. It could have been an import, if the artificially high used CD price was any indication.

It was out on German label Bellaphon a long time ago.

A number of Strata-East titles were. I picked up Billy Harper's "Capra Black", Clifford Jordan's "Glass Bead Games" and a bunch of Tolliver titles back then.

[david weiss]

I think the ownership of almost all of the masters have reverted back to the individual artists so at this point it's on the artist to see about reissuing their work.

I know that Charles has licensed his albums out to various labels over the past few years and I assume if there are inquiries about some of the other titles he passes them on to the artists so they can deal with it themselves.

I'm still waiting for Paperman as well though I have copy of the new master that I thought would have been released a few years ago. It has bonus tracks, 2 versions of Neal Hefti's Repetition.

[AndrewHill]

I have Larry Ridley's Sum of the Parts on Charley; is that a legit reissue?

[sidewinder]

A number of Strata-East titles were. I picked up Billy Harper's "Capra Black",

I've got that one on the German Bellaphon. Sounds a bit flat though - the Strata East vinyl is better.

[Tom Cat]

hey, i've got a some of those, rhythm x by charles brakeen, the one from clifford jordan and one from carmell jones, very hard to find stuff

[brownie]

and one from carmell jones, very hard to find stuff

one from Carmell Jones ?!? which one is that?

[Bluerein]

If someone is interested I have a copy (2 actually) of Dick Griffin's Strata East LP The Eight Wonder (with 4 bonus tracks from another session) on Konnex CD's from 1994.

[Tom Cat]

and one from carmell jones, very hard to find stuff

one from Carmell Jones ?!? which one is that?

i meant Charles Tolliver haha sorry, i mixed up my thoughts maybe cause i was listening some carmell jones at the time, my bad, is one from charles tolliver live at slugs vol 1

[brownie]

i meant Charles Tolliver haha sorry, i mixed up my thoughts maybe cause i was listening some carmell jones at the time, my bad, is one from charles tolliver live at slugs vol 1

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