Oliver Nelson

Oliver Nelson was such a good saxophone player that he could shine with the mainstream Quincy Jones Orchestra or with the far-out Eric Dolphy. However, his exceptional arranging and composing skills eventually pushed his playing to the sidelines. Nelson arranged big band and string sessions for the likes of Nancy Wilson, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery. The Blues and the Abstract Truth, released under his own name, features his sax with such cohorts as Dolphy and Bill Evans. This classic contains his best known song, "Stolen Moments," and is a sophisticated celebration of the blues. By the end of the '60s, Nelson had retreated to the movie and television studios. He died young in 1975.