Straight Ahead

Oliver Nelson, Eric Dolphy, ?????????? with ?????????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: OJC/Prestige New Jazz
• ASIN: B000000Y5Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,757 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Dolphy's On Board, It's Never "Straight Ahead", November 4, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straight Ahead (Audio CD)

"Straight Ahead" is the third and final collaboration between tenor saxophonist and noted arranger Oliver Nelson, and iconoclastic reedman Eric Dolphy. The first was Nelson's "Screamin' The Blues" also on the Prestige label, and the second was the famous "Blues and the Abstract Truth," recorded for Impulse a week earlier than "Straight Ahead." On March 1, 1961 Nelson and Dolphy went into the studio for the third time, along with Richard Wyands on piano, George Duvivier on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. Five of the album's six tunes are Nelson originals ("Ralph's New Blues is a Milt Jackson composition), with "Images" and the title-track the standouts. The results were magical on this session, but not quite as impressive as the Impulse date. All the same, fans of Nelson and Dolphy will enjoy plotting this course "Straight Ahead."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tragically underrated player, a rightly heralded composer, July 30, 2005

By 

Isaac Laughlin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straight Ahead (Audio CD)

Oliver Nelson has always gotten what little respect seems to be available for jazz composers. However, his playing is often not mentioned and this is unfortunate. Listening to Mr. Nelson's solos is to get a glimpse into the process of composition. In Mr. Nelson's solos there is a level of logic and compositional thought occurring that is rare in jazz. Thinking of other players in whom this trait is evident, Sonny Rollins comes to mind. Oliver Nelson lacks the technical wizardry of Mr. Rollins, but in some ways that makes it even easier to hear his thought processes.

That being said, Mr. Nelson probably wouldn't make for a very interesting album on his own, but he more than makes up for it by playing alongside Eric Dolphy. The contrast in this case is delightful. Where Nelson restrains himself, Dolphy let's fly with his trademark flurries of notes and very vocal style.

The rest of the band is strong too, providing a very solid base for the soloists, and navigating their way through the superb compositions with aplomb. Roy Haynes' drum work is particularly noteworthy here. It's sad that this album is not better known, because it has all the elements of a classic, great composition, a strong appreciation for the blues and a diverse collection of brilliant soloists backed by an outstanding band.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not "Screamin' the Blues" or "Abstract Truth" but GREAT!, February 3, 2009

By 

Tony NYC "Tony NYC" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Straight Ahead (Audio CD)

Most of the other reviewers here said it right. I'm a huge Oliver Nelson and Eric Dolphy fan and this is a great album. It's not as great as "Screamin' the Blues" or "Blues and the Abstract Truth" which I feel are flawless, but this is a must have CD for many reasons. If you love either Nelson or Dolphy, that's reason enough. Great performances throughout, and for you audiophiles out there, the recording quality is very good.