Oliver Nelson
Oliver Nelson was a distinctive soloist on alto, tenor, and even soprano, but his writing eventually overshadowed his playing skills. He became a professional early on in 1947, playing with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and with St. Louis big bands headed by George Hudson and Nat Towles. In 1951, he arranged and played second alto for Louis Jordan's big band, and followed with a period in the Navy and four years at a university. After moving to New York, Nelson worked briefly with Erskine Hawkins, Wild Bill Davis, and Louie Bellson (the latter on the West Coast). In addition to playing with Quincy Jones' orchestra (1960-1961), between 1959-1961 Nelson recorded six small-group albums and a big band date; those gave him a lot of recognition and respect in the jazz world. Blues and the Abstract Truth (from 1961) is considered a classic and helped to popularize a song that Nelson had included on a slightly earlier Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis session, "Stolen Moments." He also fearlessly matched wits effectively with the explosive Eric Dolphy on a pair of quintet sessions. But good as his playing was, Nelson was in greater demand as an arranger, writing for big band dates of Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery, and Billy Taylor, among others. By 1967, when he moved to Los Angeles, Nelson was working hard in the studios, writing for television and movies. He occasionally appeared with a big band, wrote a few ambitious works, and recorded jazz on an infrequent basis, but Oliver Nelson was largely lost to jazz a few years before his unexpected death at age 43 from a heart attack.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Is It Real? (feat. Salena Mastroianni) [Remixes]
Tobtok, Simon Field, Oliver Nelson
House - Released by Perfect Havoc on 11 Oct 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Taking Care of Business (Album of 1960)
Pop - Released by Jazz Classics on 31 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Original Recording of the Classic Album)
Jazz - Released by CGH Ventures Inc. on 2 Mar 2015
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Jazz Recordings 1950-1960
Jazz - Released by Vintage Masters Inc. on 1 Jun 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Till Death Do We Party (feat. Aya Anne)
Electronic - Released by Perfect Havoc on 6 Oct 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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In A Sentimental Mood
Jazz - Released by Marylebone Records on 2 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlin Dialogue for Orchestra
Oliver Nelson, The Berlin Dreamband
Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1971
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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The Oliver Nelson Collection, Vol. 5
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soul Street
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest
Jazz - Released by Dobre Classic Media on 3 Apr 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Better Day
Oliver Nelson, Tobtok, Lovespeake
Electronic - Released by LoudKult Div. on 29 Apr 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All That Jazz, Vol. 108: Cascades – Freddie Hubbard & Friends
Freddie Hubbard, Oliver Nelson, Curtis Fuller
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Jube Legends on 26 Oct 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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The Blues and the Abstract Truth
George Barrow, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Oliver Nelson
Jazz - Released by Dnv on 7 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Is It Real? (feat. Salena Mastroianni)
Tobtok, Simon Field, Oliver Nelson
Pop - Released by Perfect Havoc on 14 Oct 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Poolside Croatia 2016
Dance - Released by Toolroom Longplayer on 9 Sep 2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Changes (feat. River)
Dance - Released by Perfect Havoc on 26 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo