Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

June 4, 1932 in St. Louis, MO

Death

:

October 27, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

 

Orchestral

 

Oliver Nelson was a renowned American jazz saxophonist, arranger, and composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on June 4, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a musical family. His father was a professional jazz pianist, and his mother was a church pianist. Nelson grew up in a musical environment and started playing the saxophone at the age of six. Nelson's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he quickly became a proficient saxophonist. He attended Vashon High School in St. Louis, where he played in the school's jazz band. After graduating from high school, Nelson joined the U.S. Navy, where he played in the Navy Band. During his time in the Navy, he continued to hone his musical skills and began composing his own music. After leaving the Navy, Nelson moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He quickly established himself as a talented saxophonist and arranger and began working with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. He also worked as a session musician, playing on numerous recordings for other artists. In the 1960s, Nelson began to focus more on composing his own music. He released his first album as a bandleader, "Meet Oliver Nelson," in 1959, which was well-received by critics and audiences alike. He went on to release several more albums over the next few years, including "The Blues and the Abstract Truth," which is considered one of his most significant works. "The Blues and the Abstract Truth" was released in 1961 and featured a stellar lineup of musicians, including Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, and Bill Evans. The album was a critical and commercial success and is now regarded as a classic of the jazz genre. It features some of Nelson's most famous compositions, including "Stolen Moments" and "Hoe-Down." Nelson continued to compose and record music throughout the 1960s, working with a variety of musicians and experimenting with different styles and genres. He also began to work more in the field of film and television music, composing scores for several movies and TV shows. One of Nelson's most significant works in the field of classical music is his "Black, Brown and Beige Suite," which he composed in 1966. The suite is a tribute to Duke Ellington's "Black, Brown and Beige" and features a mix of jazz and classical elements. It was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and received critical acclaim. Nelson's other notable works in the classical music genre include "The Kennedy Dream," which he composed in 1968 as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy, and "The Columbus Suite," which he composed in 1971 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to America. Nelson continued to work in the music industry until his untimely death in 1975 at the age of 43. He left behind a legacy of innovative and influential music that continues to inspire and influence musicians today. His contributions to the world of classical music, in particular, have earned him a place among the most significant composers of the 20th century.

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