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Live From Los Angeles ~ Oliver Nelson’s Big Band | By Eddie Carter

Submitted for your approval this morning is a 1967 live album by Oliver Nelson’s Big Band, Live From Los Angeles (Impulse A-9153/AS-9153). It was recorded at Marty’s on The Hill over three nights during a six-day engagement. Oliver was a brilliant arranger, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. The band members are Bobby Bryant, Conte Candoli, Buddy Childers, and Freddy Hill on trumpet; Lou Blackburn, Billy Byers, Pete Myers, and Ernie Tack on trombone; Gabe Baltazar and Frank Strozier on alto saxophone; Bill Perkins and Tom Scott on tenor saxophone, Oliver Nelson on soprano saxophone, arranger and conductor, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Frank Strazzeri on piano, Mel Brown on guitar, Monty Budwig on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. My copy is the 1967 U.S. Mono release.

Side One opens with Miss Fine, an original by Oliver Nelson named in honor of his sister. The band begins at a medium beat, with their ensemble playing admirably tight during the opening and concluding chorus. Freddy Hill delivers a captivating performance in the song’s only interpretation, mesmerizing both the audience and the listener. Milestones by Miles Davis is a high-energy swinger from the start, setting a brisk pace for the big band’s theme. Frank Strozier bursts out of the gate quickly, followed by an intense exchange with Tom Scott. Tom takes flight last with a spirited performance leading to the final theme and ending.

Frank takes center stage in the next tune, I Remember Bird by Leonard Feather, a gentle ballad that begins with the saxophonist presenting the theme and its restatement while the band supports in the background. As the only soloist, he provides delicate softness in a gorgeous interpretation, preceding a beautiful conclusion. Night Train by Jimmy Forrest, Lewis Simpkins, and Oscar Washington is one of two tunes Oliver recorded with Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery a year earlier. The ensemble opens and closes similarly. Mel Brown is the featured soloist and serves a healthy portion of soul food for the ears until the band takes it out.

Oliver Nelson’s Guitar Blues gets Side Two underway, giving Mel another opportunity to shine. The band sets things in motion with a feisty melody, then Mel shows up and shows out in an outstanding performance, culminating in the theme’s reprise and a spirited finale. Down By The Riverside is an African-American spiritual that initially received a jazzy makeover from Jimmy, Wes, and Oliver on their collaborative album. After the band establishes the theme in this version, the driving force consists of four trumpeters: Bobby Bryant, Freddy Hill, Conte Candoli, and Buddy Childers, who take four successive solos that nearly bring the house down before the band wraps things up.

The band’s theme, Ja Da by Bob Carleton, brings the album to a gentle close. The slow-paced melody sets the mood for Lou Blackburn’s lone solo while the ensemble provides a warm and heartfelt backdrop. The trombonist’s performance creates a rich tapestry of sound, leading to an elegant theme restatement. Bob Thiele produced Live From Los Angeles, and Wally Heider was the recording engineer. The album’s sound quality is exceptional, immersing the listener in the big band’s performances and making you feel like you’re in the audience. The album adheres to Impulse’s high standards, featuring laminated gatefold covers, distinctive spine color, stunning photography, insightful liner notes, and outstanding music.

Oliver Nelson was also a master of the alto and tenor saxophones. Throughout his career, he arranged numerous albums for jazz and pop musicians and vocalists, showcasing a style combining traditional big band elements with modern jazz innovations. He also recorded for Argo, Flying Dutchman, Prestige, and Verve Records. After moving to the West Coast in 1967, Nelson became sought after for scoring background music for films and television shows. The jazz community deeply mourned his untimely death from a heart attack at the age of forty-three. If you’re in the mood for a terrific big-band live album, I recommend Oliver Nelson’s Big Band Live From Los Angeles the next time you’re record shopping. It’s a thrilling release that promises endless listening pleasure for jazz enthusiasts like me!

~ Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo (Verve Records V-8678/V6-8678) – Source: Discogs.com

~ Ja Da, Milestones, Night Train – Source: Wikipedia.org

© 2025 by Edward Thomas Carter

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