Recorded during a single day in February 1961 and released six months later, The Blues and the Abstract Truth is regarded as jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson's most acclaimed album. It features great tracks such as "Stolen Moments," and a stellar list of musicians, including Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, George Barrow and Roy Haynes. Musically, the album was something of a departure from the norm for Oliver; better known for his work with big bands, this album found him fronting a much smaller combo and exploring the mood and structure of the blues. To accomplish this, Oliver wrote six tracks, with only some of them being structured in the conventional 12-bar blues form. However, many of the solos are performed in such a style, resulting in a compelling album that has withstood the passage of time extremely well. Available on limited-edition Impulse! Orange vinyl.
