Charles Tolliver – Compassion (LP, Pure Pleasure)

Onto my short review. I have to admit that I’m biased in favor of Charles Tolliver. He plays with a combination of strength and sweetness that goes beyond mere language. The fact that he is self-taught is more miraculous. This particular recording has the best sound quality I’ve ever heard. The clarity is stunning and all the music is magnificent. The recording is so good, one can hear the sound of a musician’s fingertips accidentally brushing across the bass strings, for example. Alvin Queen is always brilliant on the drums. This group has a synergy that just goes so deep, it feels like they’re reading each others’ minds. But I can’t recommend this enough. It’s some of the best-recorded jazz I’ve ever experienced.’