Blues And The Abstract Truth

Amazon.com
Oliver Nelson had recorded several sessions for Prestige when the fledgling Impulse! label gave him the opportunity to make this septet date in 1961. The result was a rare marriage between an arranger-composer's conception and the ideal collection of musicians to execute it. The material is all based somehow on the blues, but Nelson's structural and harmonic extensions make it highly varied, suggesting ballads, hoedowns, and swing. The band is one of those groupings that seem only to have been possible around 1960, a roster so strong that the leader's name was actually listed fourth on the cover. Nelson shares the solo space with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist and flutist Eric Dolphy, and pianist Bill Evans, while bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Roy Haynes contribute support and baritone saxophonist George Barrow adds depth. In stark contrast to Dolphy's brilliant, convulsive explosions, Nelson's tenor solos are intriguingly minimalist, emphasizing a tight vibrato and unusual note choices. It's not quite Kind of Blue (nothing is), but Blues and the Abstract Truth is an essential recording, one that helped define the shape of jazz in the '60s. --Stuart Broomer

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
Oliver Nelson was a jazz arranger, composer, and saxophonist of considerable imagination and skill. With this 1961 recording session, he built on the letter and the spirit of simple unadulterated blues to create timelessly memorable hard bop. Key players Eric Dolphy (flute, alto saxophone), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Bill Evans (piano), Roy Haynes (drums), and Paul Chambers (bass) provide lyricism and propulsion. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Blues And The Abstract Truth,Oliver Nelson,Grp Records,Hard Bop,Jazz,Post-Bop,Progressive Big Band,Progressive Jazz,United States of America

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Average customer rating: So Many Superlatives Great Small Group Writing Stolen Moments is the classic patrician cheesiness Truth is a beautiful thing

The Blues and the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Grp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Speak No Evil More Blues & the Abstract Truth Song for My Father Maiden Voyage Moanin' ASIN: B000003N7E Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

1. Stolen Moments
2. Hoe-Down
3. Cascades
4. Yearnin'
5. Butch And Butch
6. Teenie's Blues

Amazon.com

Oliver Nelson had recorded several sessions for Prestige when the fledgling Impulse! label gave him the opportunity to make this septet date in 1961. The result was a rare marriage between an arranger-composer's conception and the ideal collection of musicians to execute it. The material is all based somehow on the blues, but Nelson's structural and harmonic extensions make it highly varied, suggesting ballads, hoedowns, and swing. The band is one of those groupings that seem only to have been possible around 1960, a roster so strong that the leader's name was actually listed fourth on the cover. Nelson shares the solo space with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist and flutist Eric Dolphy, and pianist Bill Evans, while bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Roy Haynes contribute support and baritone saxophonist George Barrow adds depth. In stark contrast to Dolphy's brilliant, convulsive explosions, Nelson's tenor solos are intriguingly minimalist, emphasizing a tight vibrato and unusual note choices. It's not quite Kind of Blue (nothing is), but Blues and the Abstract Truth is an essential recording, one that helped define the shape of jazz in the '60s. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

So Many Superlatives.......2007-06-12

This CD is packed with superlatives. Oliver Nelson's writing and arranging leads the pack. He gives the blues a serious workout with his songwriting. Each song starts and ends with an orchestrated statement of a theme. Each theme is catchy, quirky, and a bit reminiscent of funky TV show themes like Sanford & Son with the heavy sax representation. The songs each has their own mood, running the gamut from cheerful to somewhat dissonant. The group of all-stars plays like they pay together every day - absolutely solid, yet expressive group playing. After the introductory themes, everyone gets their turn to show their stuff. Although I am a big Bill Evans fan and I enjoy his effective foray into the blues here, I find myself looking forward to the horn solos even more when I listen to this CD. Multiple saxes, trumpet and flute provide plenty of voice variety and each player has their own compelling style. This CD made an instant Freddie Hubbard and Eric Dolphy fan out of me. If you are looking for a very listenable example of some of the finest players ever getting together when classic jazz was near its peak, you couldn't find a better place to start than this.

Great Small Group Writing.......2007-05-09

I can't think of a better album to study for small group writing. Plus, the variety of soloists makes the album worth buying. Listening to Eric's freer style of improvisation and then having Oliver come in with a very 'Trane influenced pattern style of improv makes every song a classic.

Stolen Moments is the classic.......2007-02-27

Oliver Nelson was a great jazzman who really never got his complete due. He was a reasonably original tenor sax man, but his real talent was composing and arranging. This is an exceptional album, both because of the high quality of arrangements and because of the creativity of the musicians Nelson surrounded himself with in this album. Eric Dolphy was in the mold of Coltrane, and definitely a free spirit, but he was also thoroughly grounded like Trane was. Bill Evans, well, what more need be said. He was the pianist for Miles on "Kinda Blue", he established himself as a major piano figure and he was a master accompanist. Freddie Hubbard was a master jazz trumpet player. The rhythm section is tight and more than just competent. All in all, this is a wonderful CD, and the highest of the high has to be Stolen Moments. Not only the arrangement, but also the way each soloist listens to the soloist just before him and continues the same "story". This is jazz, both written and improvised, at its best and this album ranks nearly as high as "Kinda Blue".

patrician cheesiness.......2007-01-05

I have seen the tbin-tie wearing white boys gasp in horror at their realization this music could not get them laid in the Summmer of Love.
For many sad jazz dee-jays Oliver Nelson celebrates the acme of post-bop bachelor pad cheese. This is by no means a terrible record; "Stolen Moments" is a deserved classic, tho long relegated to elevators, dentists' office foyers, and high school pep bands. Don't rush out and get this record... yet. Try Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and Grant Green's "Idle Moments" - make-out sides for the man of distiction i.e. in his 60's. Oliver Nelswon leads to Creed Taylor leads to fusion.

Truth is a beautiful thing.......2006-11-06

I heard a few sections of this disc on my local jazz station and had to buy it. A great purchase

Average customer rating: Unfairly slighted Good, classical jazz "More" doesn't necessarily mean better Oliver Nelson doesn't perform on this album A FABULOUS, SIZZLING, SWINGING SESSION !!

More Blues & the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Grp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Blues and the Abstract Truth Straight Ahead Live from Los Angeles Screamin' the Blues Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall ASIN: B000003N92 Release Date: 1997-03-11

Tracks:

1. Blues And The Abstract Truth
2. Blues O'Mighty
3. Theme from Mr. Broadway
4. Midnight Blue
5. The Critic's Choice
6. One For Bob
7. Blues For Mr. Broadway
8. Goin' To Chicago Blues
9. One For Phil
10. Night Lights

Customer Reviews:

Unfairly slighted.......2007-03-13

True, there's no "Stolen Moments," no Bill Evans, Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard. But this sequel to Oliver Nelson's classic "Blues and the Abstract Truth" is every bit as enjoyable and, in some respects, is an even more impressive display of Oliver's compositional-arranging brilliance while leaving even more blowing room than its predecessor.

This time only half of tunes are originals: Dave Brubeck deserves credit for two of the numbers, Hefti gets the honors for the familiar "Midnight Blue" (never sounding better than with this arrangement featuring Ben Webster), and "Goin' to Chicago Blues" receives a fresh and welcome facelift.

It could be argued that pianist Roger Kellaway is more suited to Oliver's extrovertish tailorings that Bill Evans, that Phil Woods is more in the arranger's mainstream-modern groove than Eric Dolphy, and that the trumpet duo of Thad Jones and Danny Moore is at least the equal of Hubbard's horn. And though at times I've had doubts about virtuoso Richard Davis' credentials as a walker, on this occasion he's right in the swing of things.

The arranged heads are frequently beboppish, intricate, orchestrated and executed to perfection. It's nice to see that Oliver thought highly enough of Danny Moore's talents to employ him (I once saw the trumpeter pretty much hold his own against the indomitable Bill Hardman as well as hold up his end in the front-line of a quintet he co-led with tenorist George Coleman, before he vanished from sight).

One undeniable disappointment: the lack of an opportunity to hear the mightily underrated, virtually untouchable player Oliver Nelson lock horns with the widely-acclaimed master, Phil Woods. Was the leader intimidated? Highly unlikely. Was he simply being deferential? Very possibly. Or did these arrangements require more attention to his conducting skills than the previous date? Very likely.

Good, classical jazz.......2006-10-07

"MORE BLUES AND THE ABSTRACT TRUTH" should be seen a seperate entity from "THE BLUES AND THE ABSTRACT TRUTH", compare apples with apples.
It is not a follow up, the name confuses, but as a stand-alone album it is brilliant and is equally as talented as it's predecessor, but with different style.
The tracks BLUES O'MIGHTY and THE CRITICS CHOICE are fine examples of the diversity of this artist.
Listening to the previous album "BLUES & THE ABSTRACT TRUTH" it becomes evident that this is in the Modal jazz style ( ala Miles Davis ) whereas "MORE BLUES & THE ABSTRACT TRUTH" is in the Bebop style. They can't be compared because of that, but they do share one thing, brilliance - a testament to talented artists under the creative leadership
of Oliver Nelson.
If you love classical jazz and prefer Bebop, then "MORE BLUES & THE ABSTACT TRUTH" is an album you should buy without the slightest hesitation.

"More" doesn't necessarily mean better.......2006-06-19

This is a follow-up album (perhaps) to Oliver Nelson's landmark Impusle recording BLUES AND THE ABSTRACT TRUTH, recorded in 1961. The personnel is different, and although top-notch in their own right, can't compare to the freshness and excitement generated by the original group. Two tracks stand out: THEME FROM MR. BROADWAY, a Dave Brubeck composition done for a TV series, with fine solos by Thad Jones, Pepper Adams, and Phil Woods; the other is GOIN' TO CHICAGO BLUES, which is a complete reworking of the famous Jimmy Rushing-Count Basie tune, with Woods taking solo honors. Ben Webster joins the group on two songs, and his solo on BLUES FOR MR. BROADWAY is long and sonorous and especially fine. It might be unfair to totally piggy-back this album, which was made in 1964, to the 1961 release (other than the near-duplicate title with the perhaps unfortunate use of the word "More" in it, they are very dissimilar), but it's easy to compare the two and bemoan the absence of Freddie Hubbard and Eric Dolphy here.

Oliver Nelson doesn't perform on this album.......2006-03-26

The original "Blues and the Abstract Truth" is one of my all time favorite albums and I rate it at LEAST 5 stars. This "More Blues @ Abstract Truth" is a good follow up, but nowhere near the original, which was recorded three years earlier. I love the fact that Phil Woods is on this album, but am very disappointed that Oliver Nelson does NOT play on this album. Yes, is was generally known that Nelson became more known for his writing skills than his playing, but for me personally, his writing COMBINED with his playing on the original recording made all the difference. If you already have the original "Blues and the Abstract Truth", then this would be a welcome addition. After the 1961 "Blues" original, I personally prefer his 1975 album, "Stolen Moments", and his 1960 recording "Screamin' the Blues" with Eric Dolphy, much more than this CD. Like I said, the fact that he doesn't even perform on this CD is a big minus for me, on an otherwise great CD. 3 Stars.

A FABULOUS, SIZZLING, SWINGING SESSION !!.......2005-04-19

Five Stars? Let's give it SIX STARS!! One of the best composed, wonderfully arranged and inspired blowing session jazz albums in my entire collection. Oliver Nelson's followup to the Five Star CD "The Blues & The Abstract Truth" is FABULOUS! With Nelson in the role of writer, arranger, and conductor, his top drawer arrangements 'unleash' the players to get the very best from each of them. Underpinned by the monster rhythm section of Roger Kellaway, Richard Davis, and Grady Tate, Nelson insured this would be a special burning & swinging experience for the listener. And then he added the unison horns of Phil Woods, Thad Jones, and Pepper Adams for some real spice. Plus he brought in Ben Webster's unique tenor sax. Talk about 'stacking the deck'!!

The 'Piece D'Resistance', the best of the best, amongst this bevy of fabulous performances is the song "Blues and the Abstract Truth", which starts the CD with a long, convoluted, multi-noted, dynamic 'theme in three- sections', setting up sizzling solos by Roger Kellaway, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, and Grady Tate. Notice how Nelson uses a simple two-noted repeat figure by the rhythm section to raise the second half of each solo to another level of intensity. One of the finest group and individual performances I have ever heard, with each solo 'uping the ante' all the way to the two-headed ending. WOW!

But the rest of the CD is just as interesting, intense, and swinging. Phil Woods and company are in top form ripping off memorable solo after solo (Thad Jones' solo on "Blues for Mr Broadway" is a blue sizzler! Kellaway's solo on "Going to Chicago Blues" is a real hoot, as is Mr Woods). And Ben Webster, obviously in an elder statesman cameo role, almost steals the show with "Blues For Mr Broadway". His solos are models of inventiveness, experience, and cunning, with a voice-like, laconic sound that is one of the rare pleasures in modern jazz. Oliver Nelson was incredible and left the bandstand and the music studio much too young. This is a 'must have' essential CD in any serious jazz collection. Five Stars are not enough Six HUGE Stars!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

The Blues and the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Japanese Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Great Kai & J. J. Ascension Out of the Cool Impressions Miles Smiles ASIN: B00005L8YZ Release Date: 2006-12-18

Tracks:

1. Stolen Moments
2. Hoe Down
3. Cascades
4. Yearnin'
5. Butch and Butch
6. Teenie's Blues

Album Description

Part of the Impulse Best 50! Series. Japanese exclusive 24-bit 96khz digitally remastered reissue of 1961 album. Packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese limited edition release featuring an LP style slipcase cover. 24bit 96kHz digitally remastered. Part of the 'Impulse Best 50' collection.

Average customer rating:

Blues and the Abstract Truth Suzanne Pittson Manufacturer: Vineland ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Indie Music | Stores | Music | Alternative Rock | Blues | Broadway & Vocalists | Children's Music | Christian & Gospel | Classical | Country | Dance & DJ | Folk | International | Jazz | Latin Music | Miscellaneous | New Age | Opera & Vocal | Pop | R&B | Rap & Hip-Hop | Rock | Soundtracks ASIN: B000003A1J Release Date: 1996-11-26

Tracks:

1. Butch And Butch
2. My Ship
3. You And The Night And The Music
4. In Love In Vain
5. Blues And The Abstract Truth
6. Out Of Nowhere
7. The Meaning Of The Blues
8. Love For Sale
9. Somewhere In Tokyo
10. Ginger Bread Boy

Average customer rating:

The Blues and the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00008FDBS Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Stolen Moments
2. Hoe Down
3. Cascades
4. Yearnin'
5. Butch and Butch
6. Teenie's Blues

Average customer rating:

More Blues & the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Japanese Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005R0OU Release Date: 2007-07-23

Tracks:

1. Blues and the Abstract Truth
2. Blues O'Mighty
3. Theme from Mr. Broadway
4. Midnight Blue
5. Critic's Choice
6. One for Bob
7. Blues for Mr. Broadway
8. Goin' to Chicago Blues
9. One for Phil [*]
10. Night Lights [*]

Album Description

Full title, 'More Blues & the Abstract Truth'. Japanese exclusive 24-bit remastered reissue of 1964 album originally issued on Impulse!. Packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

24bit Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Average customer rating:

Blues & The Abstract Truth Manufacturer: MCA Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000EDKO0E

Product Description

1. Stolen Moments~~~2. Hoe-Down~~~3. Cascades~~~4. Yearnin'~~~5. Butch and Butch~~~6. Teenie's Blues

Average customer rating:

The Blues and the Abstract Truth Oliver Nelson Manufacturer: Impulse! ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Impulse | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music ASIN: B00008KKTM Release Date: 2003-05-05

Tracks:

1. Stolen Moments
2. Hoe Down
3. Cascades
4. Yearnin'
5. Butch and Butch
6. Teenie's Blues

Average customer rating:

Blues & the Abstract Truth ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00019PCRQ Release Date: 2004-03-30

Album Description

Japanese reissue of 1961 album packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Impulse. 2004.

Average customer rating:

Truth & The Abstract Blues Winck , Buning , and Schoenefeldt ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00008EMC3 Release Date: 1995-08-01

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