The Blues And The Abstract Truth

Description

Description

CD EDITION - THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 6 BONUS TRACKS - 16-PAGE BOOKLET WITH MEMORABILIA AND UPDATED LINER NOTES. The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse AS-5) was the masterpiece that earned Oliver Nelson widespread recognition as one of the finest arrangers and composers in jazz.

Everything shines here: the wonderful compositions and arrangements, including the splendid Stolen Moments, which would become a standard, and the all-star group featuring Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Roy Haynes.

As a bonus, six other Oliver Nelson compositions, also featuring Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes, including two extended blues and the earliest existing version of Stolen Moments, (originally issued as The Stolen Moment) have been added to the superb edition.

"This LP is a must buy for all jazz collectors, and a Top Ten-Fifty favourite for many." - ***** AllMusic (Michael G. Nastos)

"Using 12-bar blues and 'I Got Rhythm' as points of departure, Nelson has put together six compositions that show him to be one of the important new writers." - ***** Down Beat (Don DeMicheal)

One of the 120 Best Jazz Albums: Basis-Diskothek -Jazz, Germany

"Oliver Nelson's 'Stolen Moments' is perhaps the best blues ever written, even if it's not quite discernible as such. A masterpiece with an intensity and quality rarely seen." - (Ralf Dombrowski)

Description

'Stolen Moments' had in fact already been recorded by Nelson the previous year as 'The Stolen Moment' on an album by the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Big Band titled Trane Whistle. Coincidently, this early version (included here as a bonus track) also featured Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes, as well as George Barrow.

Description

The Blues and the Abstract Truth is not just a landmark album in Oliver Nelson's career but in the history of jazz itself. The album features an incredible ensemble of top-tier jazz musicians, often referred to as a "supergroup": Oliver Nelson (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, flute), George Barrow (baritone saxophone), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Roy Haynes (drums). The early 1960s were marked by a shift from the hard bop of the 1950s to more experimental forms, including modal jazz, free jazz, and the incorporation of avant-garde elements. Musicians like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Charles Mingus were all pushing the boundaries of jazz, and Oliver Nelson's work fits within this broader movement: in this album there's a perfect combination of modern compositional techniques, virtuosic performances, and emotional depth make it an essential listening experience for any jazz fan. It captures the moment when jazz was evolving into new, exciting directions while staying connected to its roots in the blues. The Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered one of the essential albums in modern jazz where Oliver Nelson's compositional style blends hard bop, modal jazz, and blues influences with sophisticated harmonic structures and striking arrangements. The album is noted for its rich orchestration despite having a relatively small ensemble with use of textures and colours, particularly in tracks like "Stolen Moments," created a new standard in jazz arranging.