One Jazz One Label – Strata East

Jez Nelson profiles the cult New York label Strata East, set up by trumpeter Charles Tolliver and pianist Stanley Cowell in 1971. The label set out to give musicians more creative control and ownership of their music and soon attracted many heralded jazz artist and legendary musicians like Cecil McBee, Billy Hart, Billy Harper Pharoah Sanders, Gil Scott Heron and more.

The label profile comes at a time where an unprecedented number of original albums are being re-issued and made available on digital streaming platforms for the very first time, plus previously unreleased and new recordings. Label co-founder Charles Tolliver also features in an interview exclusively shared live on air when One Jazz was at the 2025 New York Winter Jazzfest.