Mack Avenue Music Group and Strata-East Records released four legendary albums from the Strata-East catalogue on CD and 180-gram vinyl with audio cut directly from the original analogue tapes. Celebrating the revolutionary spirit of one of the most influential artist-owned independent jazz labels in history, Strata-East titles from Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell, The Heath Brothers, Cecil McBee, and The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe are available now. The releases were also featured in The New York Times, who stated, “you can’t tell the story of jazz in the 1970s without a serious look at Strata-East”.
- Listen to Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell - Music Inc HERE
- Listen to The Heath Brothers - Marchin' On! Feat. Stanley Cowell HERE
- Listen to Cecil McBee - Mutima HERE
- Listen to The Descendands of Mike and Phoebe - A Spirit Speaks - HERE
- [CD Only/Vinyl Released Exclusively for RSD Black Friday]
- Listen to Strata-East: The Legacy Begins HERE
In partnership with Mack Avenue Music Group, earlier this year Strata-East released 32 historic titles on digital platforms for the first time to widespread acclaim from The New York Times, DownBeat and Tidal. This series of reissues tells the story of one of Jazz’s most iconic labels, founded in resistance to major labels restrictions to artistic expression in the 50s and 60s. Strata-East’s commitment to freedom and high standards earned it a revered place in jazz history. Finally the initial analog tapes have been re-mastered and re-released to continue its legacy for generations to come. Mastered by Kevin Grey, the releases were pressed to 180-gram vinyl at RTI with audio cut directly from the original analog tapes. The LPs also include deluxe tip-on gatefold packaging with new liner notes and never-before-seen photos.
Starting with Strata-East’s debut release from Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell, Music Inc. set the standard for creative expression and musical mastery that the label’s co-founders Tolliver and Cowell exemplified throughout their careers. Recorded on November 11, 1970, Music Inc. is a masterclass in executing a singular creative vision for large ensembles, embodying the freedom and finesse that Strata-East has been synonymous with since the 1970s.
Initially released in 1976, Marchin' On! by The Heath Brothers combines the lyrical brilliance of Jimmy Heath on saxophone, the grounding presence of Percy Heath on bass, and the dynamic rhythm of Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums—alongside pianist and label co-founder Stanley Cowell—to bridge the hard bop roots of the 1950s with the spiritual and socially conscious music of the 1970s.
Cecil McBee’s debut album, Mutima, blends the deeply introspective qualities of spiritual jazz with adventurous post-bop and avant-garde influences. Released in 1974, the album highlights McBee’s virtuosic skill on the bass alongside his remarkable gift for crafting compositions that resonate with emotional and intellectual depth. Backed by a stellar ensemble featuring luminaries such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Onaje Allan Gumbs, and Dom Salvador, Mutima – translated as “unseen forces” – unfolds as a vivid musical journey. A cornerstone of 1970s jazz, Mutima solidifies Cecil McBee’s reputation as a trailblazer, channeling the spirit of innovation and collective artistry into a timeless recording.
One of many projects on Strata-East spearheaded by bassist, composer, and arranger Bill Lee (legendary director Spike Lee’s father), The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe’s only album, A Spirit Speaks, enlists Bill Lee’s brother and sisters—Clif Lee, A. Grace Lee Mims, and Consuela Lee Moorehead—to form a group named in tribute to their enslaved ancestors. Combining elements of jazz, gospel, soul, and blues, among other influences, A Spirit Speaks has become one of the most sought-after albums from the catalog. The project was reissued to LP as a Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 release, and the CD is available to purchase now.
Other recent critically acclaimed Strata-East reissues on CD and 180-gram vinyl include Pharoah Sanders' Izipho Zam (My Gifts), Charles Tolliver & Music Inc's Live at Slugs’, Volume I & II, Stanley Cowell’s Musa: Ancestral Streams, and Charlie Rouse's Two Is One.