Written by Mack Avenue Music Group and Strata-East Records have announced a landmark campaign to reissue four influential albums from the Strata-East catalogue, marking a renewed commitment to the legacy of artist-driven, independent jazz. Among the releases, the vinyl edition of “A Spirit Speaks” by The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe will appear as a special Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive on November 28, 2025, while albums by Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell, The Heath Brothers, and Cecil McBee will be available on CD and LP from December 12.
Founded in 1971 by Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell, Strata-East Records occupies a unique position in jazz history. The label served as a model for artist autonomy, allowing composers, bandleaders, and ensembles to realize their creative visions without compromise. Between 1970 and the early 1980s, Strata-East released over 50 albums, many of which are now considered cornerstones of post-bop, spiritual jazz, and afro-jazz. Works by Gil Scott-Heron, Clifford Jordan, Charlie Rouse, and the founders themselves continue to influence generations of musicians and listeners.
This new series of reissues—undertaken in partnership with Mack Avenue Music Group—follows a recent digital initiative that brought 32 titles from the Strata-East vaults to streaming platforms for the first time. The initiative received critical attention for its documentation of one of America’s most vital catalogues of independent Black music, as highlighted by platforms such as The New York Times, DownBeat, and Tidal.
Each album in the reissue campaign has been mastered by Kevin Gray and pressed to 180-gram vinyl at RTI with audio cut directly from the original analog master tapes. Deluxe gatefold packaging, newly written liner notes, and previously unseen photographs accompany the releases, providing historical context and visual insight into the era.
The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe’s “A Spirit Speaks” stands out as the only album issued by this ensemble, assembled by bassist, composer, and arranger Bill Lee—a leading session musician and father of filmmaker Spike Lee. The group is comprised of Lee’s siblings—Clif Lee, A. Grace Lee Mims, and Consuela Lee Moorehead—coming together under a band name that honours their enslaved ancestors. Musically, the album bridges jazz, gospel, soul, blues, and other forms, resulting in what has become one of the most sought-after titles in the Strata-East catalogue. Its reissue as a Record Store Day exclusive underscores its significance to both collectors and those newly discovering the label’s historic output.
Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s “Music Inc,” recorded in 1970 and reissued on December 12, reflects the creative vision that founded the label. The album set an early standard for large-ensemble writing in a context defined by freedom, collective expression, and meticulous craft. The Heath Brothers’ “Marchin’ On!”—originally released in 1976—brings together Jimmy, Percy, and Albert “Tootie” Heath with Cowell, merging hard bop traditions with the spiritual and socially conscious influences of the 1970s.
Cecil McBee’s “Mutima,” first released in 1974, remains a defining document of spiritual jazz and post-bop innovation, featuring contributions from an all-star cast including Dee Dee Bridgewater and Onaje Allan Gumbs.
Strata-East was renowned for giving artists unprecedented control over their work. Artist-producers brought completed projects to the label, which handled branding, promotion, manufacturing, and distribution, with greater financial returns for the musicians themselves. The absence of an enforced “label sound” encouraged diversity, from spiritual and modal jazz to funk, gospel, and experimental projects. Despite being active for just over a decade, the label’s reputation was cemented by the rarity and collectability of its releases and the continuing recognition of its pioneering philosophy.
For collectors and new listeners alike, the reissued series provides access to some of the most distinctive voices in jazz’s independent movement, restored with a focus on authenticity and fidelity to the original recordings. Other recently acclaimed Strata-East reissues include Pharoah Sanders’ “Izipho Zam (My Gifts),” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc’s “Live at Slugs’,” Stanley Cowell’s “Musa,” and Charlie Rouse’s “Two Is One.”
In bringing these albums back to physical formats, Mack Avenue Music Group and Strata-East reinforce the label’s role in championing creative and cultural independence. The November 28 Record Store Day vinyl release of “A Spirit Speaks” by The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe offers a unique opportunity to experience a key chapter of the Strata-East story—one that, more than fifty years on, remains relevant to ongoing conversations about artistry, ownership, and heritage in jazz.
More information can be found at the Strata-East website.
Last modified: October 20, 2025
