Oliver Nelson

American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (1932-1975)

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Source-basedRising

Lived 1932–1975, aged 43United States

United States MusiciansSinger / Musician

Wikipedia
22 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1932–1975
Aged 43
Known for
The First Mass
1961

Summary

Updated 2026-06-12

Oliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961) is regarded as one of the most significant recordings of its era. The centerpiece of the album is the definitive version of Nelson's composition, "Stolen Moments". Other important recordings from the 1960s are the albums More Blues and the Abstract Truth (1964) and Sound Pieces (1966), both also on Impulse!.