MUSIC, INCORPORATED
The rock world takes a lot of credit for what’s known as the “indie ethos,” or “DIY.” Circumventing the corporate music industry with small labels and self-pressed and -promoted records is often thought of as a postpunk-era notion, exemplified by the English label Factory Records’ proud credo: “The musicians own all the music and we own nothing!”
Yet that ethos wasn’t new. As with so many other things, Black American music—and jazz in particular—had gotten there first. In 1971, Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell founded Strata-East Records in New York. The label operated on the principle that the artists owned all of their output, with Strata-East taking only a small commission to keep the lights on (if that).
It was only active for a decade. But today, 50 years after the fact, Strata-East is lionized. Part of that has to do with the remarkably high quality (and relative rarity) of its catalogue. However, its pioneering approach to artist self-determination is perhaps even more celebrated.
This oral history is based primarily on interviews with Tolliver and Cowell; the latter gave this writer his final interview just weeks before he passed away last December. Sylvia, his wife, also provides some insights, as do several of the artists who worked with Strata-East. All quotes have been edited for space and clarity.
CHARLES TOLLIVER, trumpeter: Stanley [Cowell] and I met in the summer of 1967. We both had been called on by Max Roach; he was starting a new quintet, and all the band members would meet at his house to rehearse and talk. We met at that first rehearsal. We were 25 at that time, and we hit it off right away.
STANLEY COWELL, pianist: Summer ’67 to summer ’68, that was the year I worked with Max. Then in the winter of ’68 to ’69 I went on tour with Miles, and then Stan Getz and the Bobby Hutcherson-Harold Land group. But Max still called for special things at that time, special projects with some of his larger works.
Then of course Charles and I; Cowell’s leadership debut ].
