The Blues And The Abstract Truth

オリヴァー・ネルソンの最高傑作と言われ、impulse!を代表する1961年録音作品。

史上最高の名曲「Stolen Moments」をフィーチャーし、ネルソンは最も強力なモダン・ジャズ6重奏を編成した。リード・トランペット奏者のフレディ・ハバードは絶好調、アルト・サックス奏者のネルソンとエリック・ドルフィー(ネルソンはテナーを兼任)は、完璧に煮詰められたありえない組合わせを形成している。ビル・エヴァンス(p)、ポール・チェンバース(b)、ロイ・ヘインズ(ds)のリズム・セクションは間違いがない。
impulse!設立60周年記念作品。
【パーソネル】Freddie Hubbard (tp) Eric Dolphy(as, fl:M-1) Oliver Nelson (ts, as:M-6)
George Barrow (bs) Bill Evans(p) Paul Chambers(b) Roy Haynes(ds)

As Oliver Nelson is known primarily as a big band leader and arranger, he is lesser known as a saxophonist and organizer of small ensembles. Blues and the Abstract Truth is his triumph as a musician for the aspects of not only defining the sound of an era with his all-time classic "Stolen Moments," but on this recording, assembling one of the most potent modern jazz sextets ever. Lead trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is at his peak of performance, while alto saxophonists Nelson and Eric Dolphy (Nelson doubling on tenor) team to form an unlikely union that was simmered to perfection. Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Roy Haynes (drums) can do no wrong as a rhythm section. "Stolen Moments" really needs no comments, as its undisputable beauty shines through in a three-part horn harmony fronting Hubbard's lead melody. It's a thing of beauty that is more timeless as the years pass. The "Blues" aspect is best heard on "Yearnin'," a stylish, swinging, and swaying downhearted piece that is a bluesy as Evans would ever be. Both "Blues" and "Abstract Truth" combine for the darker "Teenie's Blues," a feature for Nelson and Dolphy's alto saxes, Dolphy assertive in stepping forth with his distinctive, angular, dramatic, fractured, brittle voice that marks him a maverick. Then there's "Hoedown," which has always been the black sheep of this collection with its country flavor and stereo separated upper and lower horn in snappy call-and-response barking. As surging and searing hard boppers respectively, "Cascades" and "Butch & Butch" again remind you of the era of the early '60s when this music was king, and why Hubbard was so revered as a young master of the idiom. A must buy for all jazz fans, and a Top Ten or Top Fifty favorite for many. ~ Michael G. Nastos