ENDEIT

Saxophonists · 1932–1975

Oliver Nelson

American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (1932-1975)

Born
4 June 1932
St. Louis
Died
27 October 1975
Los Angeles
Country
United States
Record labels
Verve Records, Prestige, Impulse!, Flying Dutchman Records, Argo Records
Discography
31 albums

Biography

Oliver Nelson was a jazz musician who played saxophone, clarinet, tenor saxophone and alto saxophone. Oliver Nelson was born on 4 June 1932 in St. Louis and died on 27 October 1975 in Los Angeles. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and post-bop. Record labels: Verve Records, Prestige, Impulse! and Flying Dutchman Records. The discography here lists 31 albums, from “Meet Oliver Nelson” (1959) to “Death of a Gunfighter / Skullduggery (Original Soundtrack)” (2024).

Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961) is regarded as one of the most significant recordings of its era. The centerpiece of the album is the definitive version of Nelson's composition, "Stolen Moments". Other important recordings from the 1960s are the albums More Blues and the Abstract Truth (1964) and Sound Pieces (1966), both also on Impulse!.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Meet Oliver Nelson 1959 · New Jazz Taking Care of Business 1960 · Prestige Screamin' the Blues 1961 · Prestige Straight Ahead 1961 · Prestige The Blues and the Abstract Truth 1961 · impulse! Afro/American Sketches 1962 · Prestige Impressions of Phaedra 1962 · United Artists Jazz Soul Battle 1962 · Prestige More Blues and the Abstract Truth 1965 · impulse! Leonard Feather Presents the Sound of Feeling and the Sound of Oliver Nelson 1966 · Verve Oliver Nelson Plays Michelle 1966 · impulse! Soulful Brass 1968 · impulse! Black Brown and Beautiful 1970 · Flying Dutchman
The Mayor and the People 1970
Zigzag 1970 · MGM Records Berlin Dialogue for Orchestra 1971 · Flying Dutchman Swiss Suite 1973 · Live · Philips
In Person 1974
Oliver Edward Nelson in London With Oily Rags 1974 · Live · Flying Dutchman Skull Session 1975 · Flying Dutchman Stolen Moments 1975 · Inner City Records Sound Pieces 1991 · impulse! Main Stem 1992 · Original Jazz Classics Nocturne 1992 · Moodsville
Live From Los Angeles 2005 · Live
Full Nelson 2006 · Verve 3-2-1-0 2008 · Columbia Music Entertainment Fantabulous 2008 · Verve Music Group The Blues and the Abstract Truth 2015 · Hallmark Music & Entertainment Death of a Gunfighter / Skullduggery (Original Soundtrack) 2024 · La‐La Land Records Afro

Also plays on

Albums where Oliver Nelson is credited as a sideman

1960 I Dig Dancers — Quincy Jones tenor saxophone
1961 Satan in High Heels — Mundell Lowe tenor saxophone
1962 Bashin’: The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith — Jimmy Smith arranger, conductor, orchestrator
1962 Free Spirits — Chris Connor reeds, tenor saxophone
1962 From the Heart — Etta Jones arranger, alto saxophone
1963 Hobo Flats — Jimmy Smith arranger, conductor
1963 Right Here, Right Now! — Billy Taylor arranger, conductor
1963 Hollar! — Etta Jones tenor saxophone
1964 Soul Burnin' — Red Garland saxophone
1964 Late Hour Special — Gene Ammons arranger, alto saxophone
1964 Velvet Soul — Gene Ammons arranger, alto saxophone
1965 Domination — Cannonball Adderley arranger, conductor
1965 Ray Brown / Milt Jackson — Ray Brown / Milt Jackson arranger, conductor
1965 Got My Mojo Working — Jimmy Smith arranger, conductor
1965 J.J.! — J.J. Johnson woodwind, arranger, saxophone
1965 My Kinda Groove — Herbie Mann arranger, conductor
1965 Joyride — Stanley Turrentine arranger
1966 Alfie — Sonny Rollins arranger, conductor, tenor saxophone
1966 Goin’ Out of My Head — Wes Montgomery arranger, conductor
1966 Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo — Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery conductor
1966 Peter & The Wolf — Jimmy Smith arranger, conductor
1966 Hoochie Coochie Man — Jimmy Smith arranger, conductor
1966 Happenings — Hank Jones & Oliver Nelson arranger, conductor
1966 Delightfulee — Lee Morgan arranger, conductor
1966 Rough House Blues — Lou Donaldson arranger
1966 Today! — Herbie Mann arranger, conductor
1966 Esther Phillips Sings — Esther arranger, conductor
1966 Soul Burst — Cal Tjader arranger, conductor
1966 Roll 'em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big Bands — Shirley Scott arranger, conductor
1968 Portrait of Carmen — Carmen McRae arranger, conductor

Standards written by Oliver Nelson

TitleKeyFormGroove
Stolen Moments C minor AB · 16 Medium swing
Butch And Butch G major AA · 24 Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Oliver Nelson play?

Oliver Nelson is known for playing saxophone, clarinet, tenor saxophone and alto saxophone.

When and where was Oliver Nelson born?

Oliver Nelson was born 4 June 1932 in St. Louis.

What are Oliver Nelson's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Meet Oliver Nelson (1959), Taking Care of Business (1960), Screamin' the Blues (1961), Straight Ahead (1961) and The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.