Oliver Nelson
Tenor Sax, Alto Sax
About
Oliver Nelson was a talented jazz saxophonist and bandleader, but he is perhaps best remembered as a brilliant composer and arranger. After arriving in New York City in 1959, Nelson performed with Erskine Hawkins and Louie Bellson, and served as the house arranger for the Apollo Theater in Harlem. That same year, he began recording as a bandleader, releasing a series of albums that included his breakthrough recording, The Blues and the Abstract Truth. This landmark album featured an all-star lineup and included his iconic composition, “Stolen Moments.” Following album's success Nelson became a highly sought-after arranger, collaborating with artists such as Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Hodges, and Stanley Turrentine. In 1967, he relocated to Los Angeles and shifted his focus to composing for film and television. His credits include scores for shows like Columbo and The Six Million Dollar Man, as well as arranging Gato Barbieri’s music for the film Last Tango in Paris. Throughout this period, Nelson continued to arrange for a wide range of jazz and pop artists while also leading his own recording sessions. Many believe the demands of his prolific career contributed to his untimely death from a heart attack in 1975, at the age of 43.
Trivia
Oliver Nelson arranged and produced albums for pop stars such as Nancy Wilson, James Brown, The Temptations, and Diana Ross. Oliver Nelson studied taxidermy and embalming during his late teens; he was initially unsure about pursuing a musical career and spent time working in a funeral home. Oliver Nelson published a book of exercises titled "Patterns for Improvisation" that remains popular to this day.
Early Life
Oliver Nelson was born into a musical family in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1932. His older brother played saxophone with Cootie Williams’ big band, and his sister was a professional pianist and vocalist. Nelson began piano lessons at age six, picked up the saxophone at eleven and by his teens was playing in local "territory bands." In 1950 he joined Louis Jordan’s big band, where he played alto sax and arranged music. After serving in the Marines-where an encounter with the Tokyo Philharmonic inspired his interest in arranging-he returned to Missouri to study composition and theory at Washington and Lincoln Universities, graduating in 1958. Following graduation he moved to New York City.
Oliver Nelson Solos
1961
Tenor Sax solo - Stolen Moments - 1961
4/4 swing in C minor at 117 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Hoe Down - 1961
4/4 swing in C major at 254 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Butch And Butch - 1961
4/4 swing in G major at 209 BPM
Alto Sax solo - Teenie's Blues - 1961
4/4 swing in F major at 134 BPM