About

The apex came in 1961. Nelson assembled a septet that included Dolphy to record The Blues and the Abstract Truth with producer Creed Taylor for an ambitious new label on the block called Impulse. Modern and sophisticated, yet with classically bluesy sensibilities, it’s regarded as his classic of the era, a timeless depiction of cool. The Blues and the Abstract Truth opens with “Stolen Moments.” It was not Nelson’s first time recording his composition, but the album’s success helped it become a standard. It was on the back of that album that he returned to Prestige to make Straight Ahead.

Like Nelson’s previous record, Straight Ahead was recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Spotlessly produced by Esmond Edwards, and capable of conjuring the same sense of mystery, elegance and enlightenment as its more celebrated predecessor, it finds Nelson still on the crest of a wave.

Straight Ahead matches together Oliver Nelson (on alto and tenor) and Eric Dolphy (tripling on alto, flute, and bass clarinet). With the assistance of pianist Richard Wyands, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Roy Haynes, the two reedmen battle it out on six compositions (five of Nelson's originals plus Milt Jackson's "Ralph's New Blues." Although none of Nelson's tunes caught on, this is a pretty memorable date. It certainly took a lot of courage for Oliver Nelson to share the front line with the colorful Eric Dolphy, but his own strong musical personality holds its own on this straight-ahead date. — (via Label)

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Label: Prestige, New Jazz
Series: Vinyl Me, Please. Classics – C083
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 180g
Country: US
Released: Apr 2024 / Original Release: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop
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File under: Jazz / Saxophone