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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Live From Los Angeles
Jazz - Released by Impulse! on Jan 1, 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Miss Me Much (feat. Syon)
Dance - Released by Atlantic Records UK on Jun 4, 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Blues and the Abstract Truth: The Stereo & Mono Versions (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Maniacs on Oct 31, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soul Battle (Remastered 1992)
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Sep 9, 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Something 'Bout The Music
Tobtok, AKA George, Oliver Nelson
House - Released by Perfect Havoc on Apr 19, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Blues And The Abstract Truth
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on Mar 2, 2015
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stolen Moments
Jazz - Released by Chameleon Archive on Jul 27, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Full Album Plus Bonus Tracks)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on Jan 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Screamin' The Blues (Rudy Van Gelder Remasters)
Jazz - Released by Prestige on Jan 1, 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Poolside Croatia 2016
House - Released by Toolroom Longplayer on Sep 9, 2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Found Your Love
Pop - Released by Polydor Records on Sep 18, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Talk (feat. Linae)
Pop - Released by Perfect Havoc on Jul 13, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sail To You (feat. Leo Stannard)
Electronic - Released by Perfect Havoc on May 26, 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Black, Brown and Beautiful
Jazz - Released by Stardust Records on Jul 1, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sunshine (Oliver Nelson Remix)
Pop - Released by Universal Music AB on Jun 17, 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ride or Die (Oliver Nelson Remix)
Ishi, Electrophunck, Oliver Nelson
Alternative & Indie - Released by Icons Creating Evil Art on Apr 21, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nothing But A Heartache
Tobtok, Oliver Nelson, The Flirtations
Dance - Released by Decca (UMO) on Aug 12, 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo