Biography
Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader born in St. Louis, Missouri, into a musical family with a saxophonist brother and a sister who sang and played piano. He began piano at age six, saxophone at 11, and played in territory bands from 1947 before joining Louis Jordan's band (1950-1951), where he arranged charts and discovered modern music beyond classical influences. After studying composition at Washington University and Lincoln University (master's in 1958) with teachers like Elliott Carter, he moved to New York, worked as Apollo Theater arranger, and recorded leaders for Prestige from 1959.
His 1961 Impulse! album The Blues and the Abstract Truth featuring Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Haynes marked his breakthrough as a composer-arranger. He arranged for giants like Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, and Wes Montgomery, played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Quincy Jones (1960-1961), and led big bands on albums like Afro-American Sketches and Full Nelson. Shifting to soprano sax, he composed for TV (Ironside, Columbo) and films (Death of a Gunfighter) after moving to Los Angeles in 1967, while arranging for pop acts like Nancy Wilson and James Brown.
Nelson led all-star big bands in global performances (1966-1975) and toured West Africa in 1969 with John Klemmer and Ernie Watts for the U.S. State Department. His versatile legacy spans jazz innovation, big band leadership, and prolific media scoring until his death in Los Angeles at age 43.
Fun Facts
- Played with Louis Jordan's band (1950-1951), inspiring his shift to composition after hearing modern music beyond Beethoven.
- Arranged Sonny Rollins' Alfie soundtrack (1966) and Gato Barbieri's music for Last Tango in Paris (1972).
- Recorded in London (1974) with future Chas & Dave duo on Oliver Edward Nelson in London with Oily Rags.
- Led a U.S. State Department-sponsored West Africa tour (1969) with John Klemmer, Ernie Watts, and Freddie Hill.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Elliott Carter - composition teacher (studies at Washington/Lincoln Universities) [1950s]
- Robert Wykes - composition teacher (studies at Washington/Lincoln Universities) [1950s]
- George Tremblay - composition teacher (studies at Washington/Lincoln Universities) [1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Eric Dolphy - co-leader on seminal album (The Blues and the Abstract Truth)
- Bill Evans - pianist on seminal album (The Blues and the Abstract Truth)
- Freddie Hubbard - trumpeter on seminal album (The Blues and the Abstract Truth)
- Quincy Jones - tenor sax in big band (U.S./Europe tours) [1960-1961]
- Count Basie - saxophonist in orchestra (live performances)
- Duke Ellington - saxophonist in orchestra (live performances) [1960-1961]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Oliver Nelson has been played 9 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.