Charlie Rouse spent over a decade as Thelonious Monk's tenor saxophonist, a partnership that shaped his deep harmonic sensibility and made him one of the most distinctive voices in post-bop. Two Is One captures him in a different, looser mode, recorded at a moment when spiritual jazz and Black independent labels like Strata-East were redefining what the music could be outside the major label system. Experience the groundbreaking sound of Charlie Rouse on Two Is One—a funk-infused exploration of jazz that embodies the innovative spirit of Strata-East Records. Originally recorded in 1974 and transferred from the original analog tapes, Two Is One fuses sophisticated soul jazz with post-bop and spiritual influences while highlighting stellar collaborations with guitarists George Davis and Paul Metzke, Cal Scott on electrified cello, and the incomparable Stanley Clarke on electric bass. For the first time ever, this classic from a saxophone legend will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Syd Schwartz and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. Tracklist 1. Bitchin' (7:09) 2. Hopscotch (7:05) 3. In A Funky Way (4:49) 4. Two Is One (12:09) 5. In His Presence Searching (10:30) UPC: 673203501225Label: Mack Avenue RecordsRelease Date: 4.25.25Format: CD
