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
-
The Blues And The Abstract Truth
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 2 Mar 2015
The Qobuz Essential Discography24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Prestige Collection
Bebop - Released by ENLIGHTENMENT on 7 Feb 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Blues And The Abstract Truth
Jazz - Released by Impulse! on 1 Jan 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Three Shades of Blue
Johnny Hodges, Oliver Nelson, Leon Thomas
Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1970
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Giving You Jazz! (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Master Tape Records on 3 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Straight Ahead
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
before you (Oliver Nelson Remix)
AngelBaby, Oliver Nelson, PRETTYMUCH
House - Released by angelbaby music on 14 Jul 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Argo, Verve And Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Jazz - Released by Trunk Records on 2 Mar 2015
The Qobuz Essential Discography24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Straight Ahead
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (with Eric Dolphy) [Bonus Track Version]
Jazz - Released by Jazz Musts on 15 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Oliver Nelson Plays Michelle
Jazz - Released by GRP on 1 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Taking Care Of Business
Jazz - Released by Prestige on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Kennedy Dream (Album Version)
Jazz - Released by GRP on 1 Jan 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo