Search - Oliver Nelson :: Sound Pieces

This is a superb album. Oliver was a genius who is missed!!

Flesh88@aol.com | USA | 05/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I met Oliver Nelson during the year of 1966 during an outdoor concert celebrating New York and his new composition entitled Jazzhattan Suite. At this time, I was sixteen years old and I approached the master to inform him that I was a young trumpet player and composer and respected him greatly. He gave me his home number and told me that I could call him at any time. Oliver was a true gentle giant who cared about the music. At this first meeting he invited me to the recording session of the Jazzhattan Suite. I cut school to attend the recording session. I showed up to the studio early and when Oliver entered, he looked at me and gave me a big hello. The session was the highlight of my life. This work entitled `Soundpiece' is truly a wonderful work. Oliver was a master composer and arranger. The utilization of brass and winds along with beautifully defined dissonances and a driving rhythm session will fill your ears with musical joy. The opening bars of this album with the bass clarinets shouting the clarion call issues the begining of a musical blessing. Oliver, I love and miss you. LONG LIVE OLIVER NELSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The greatest album of a brilliant artist.

DBW | Chicago, IL USA | 03/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sound Pieces is a tour de force. In a career bejeweled with great arrangements and superb writing, Nelson outdid himself here. The title track is unforgettable, telling a dramatic story without words. It proved he was a natural for TV and film scoring, a talent of his that has been sadly unappreciated by many critics, most notably the authors of the Penguin Guide. Other standouts on this album are "The Lady From Girl Talk," "Patterns," "Elegy for a Duck" and "Example 78." An absolute must for any jazz fan."

His best writing and playing

James A. Vedda | Alexandria, VA USA | 02/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always liked Oliver Nelson primarily as a composer/arranger and secondarily as a saxophonist. This 1966 album offers some of his best work in both areas. "Sound Piece for Jazz Orchestra" is brilliant writing, reminiscent of Stan Kenton's concert style of the 1950s and early 1960s. (According to the liner notes, the Kenton band performed this piece prior to its recording.) "Flute Salad" features alto flutes and a muted trumpet solo by Conte Candoli in an easy swing that sounds a lot like Henry Mancini's writing of that time. "The Lady from Girl Talk" is an adaptation of one of Nelson's themes written for TV. Nelson is on soprano sax for these tunes, which he arranged for big band plus two French horns, tuba, and some extensive woodwind doubling.

The remaining five tracks are in a quartet setting with Nelson continuing on soprano. I enjoy his sax playing more on this album than on any of his others that I've heard. Since he wrote most of the melodies and chord progressions for these selections, it shouldn't be surprising that he has them so thoroughly internalized that he produces his most tasteful and innovating playing.

The CD includes about 55 minutes of music, including two bonus tracks that were not on the original LP release. Unfortunately, as of this writing, Amazon is only showing two copies available from alternate vendors for the obscene prices of $70 and $100. Buyers can save a fortune by purchasing MP3 downloads, but three of the album's tracks are not available in this format - including the title track and superb renditions of "Shadow of Your Smile" and "Straight No Chaser." This highlights one of the problems jazz enthusiasts will find when attempting to purchase their favorite music as individual downloaded tracks: the three omitted tracks are each about 9 minutes long - more than the sellers are willing to give you for 99 cents each! Long live the album format."