Oliver Nelson Orchestra

[Tom 1960]

I just purchased a number of recordings very recently and while I'm just beginning to go through the stash, this may likely be my favorite of the bunch after it's all said and done. I already own a few Nelson cds. The obvious Blues and the Abstract Truth and More Blues... plus Screamin' The Blues. I've read some great things about the Mosaic set, but that's just not affordable at the moment. I decided a much cheaper alternative would to purchase Afro/American Sketches. Man, this does not disappoint. I usually leave the house early mornings(5:30AM) to head off to the gym and on most occasions usually opt to drive with the radio or cd player off. Yesterday I decided to bring along the Oliver Nelson album. Talk about walking up from a semi coma. By the time I arrived at the gym I was wide awake and couldn't wait to get back into the car to listen to the rest of the album. Anyone else here really enjoy this album and mind adding a few thoughts also? I know I can't be alone on this one.

[etherbored]

you're hardly alone.

i can't add much at this time, but i can certainly agree with you 110% that 'afro/american sketches' is an unqualified masterpiece in a collection of relative masterpieces. the accepted party line is that the larger the nelson date, the better. however, i don't swallow that pill. nelson is one arranger who could do very little wrong, imho...

Edited April 6, 2007 by etherbored

[Larry Kart]

Loved it since it first came out. Not trying to start something, but it sure shows up Wynton's orchestral "masterpieces."

[sheldonm]

Not that this has anything to do with the actual subject but Oliver's son....Oliver Jr lives here in Indy and is also a musician and really works hard to keep his father's legacy alive through education/seminars. Very nice guy, wonderful flute player and a wealth of information.

m~

[montg]

I was working at my computer recently when something on the radio really caught my attention...enough that I got up to take a look at what was playing (it's a satellite setup so the display gives the information). Anyway, it was something from this CD and it really stood out as something a cut above. That was a few weeks ago, thanks for reminding me I need to hunt down this CD.

Edited April 10, 2007 by montg

[Late]

It's weird, but I think I bought this CD something like ... fourteen years ago? Can that be? I haven't listened to it in a long time, but remember liking it a lot when I first bought it.

Thanks for the reminder — will spin tomorrow ... maybe before heading to the (not gym but) pool!

[Free For All]

Not that this has anything to do with the actual subject but Oliver's son....Oliver Jr lives here in Indy and is also a musician and really works hard to keep his father's legacy alive through education/seminars. Very nice guy, wonderful flute player and a wealth of information.

m~

Wow, that's cool, Mark. So did the apple fall far from the tree?