OLIVER NELSON — Takin' Care of Business (1960-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson would gain his greatest fame later in his short life as an arranger/composer, but this superior session puts the emphasis on his distinctive tenor and alto playing. In a slightly unusual group (with vibraphonist Lem Winchester, organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Roy Haynes), Nelson improvises a variety of well-constructed but spontaneous solos; his unaccompanied spots on "All the Way" and his hard-charging playing on the medium-tempo blues "Groove" are two of the many highpoints. Nelson remains a vastly underrated saxophonist and all six performances (four of them his originals) are excellent. Scott Yanow
Tracklist & Credits :

LEM WINCHESTER SEXTET ft. OLIVER NELSON — Lem's Beat (1960-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lem Winchester, an ill-fated vibraphonist who was influenced musically by Milt Jackson, teams up with tenor saxophonist Oliver Nelson, altoist Curtis Peagler and a fine rhythm section for a good straight-ahead date that has been reissued on CD. Nelson emerges as the most distinctive solo voice, and since he contributed three of the six songs, the tenorman's musical personality dominates this set. Winchester shows much potential that, due to his untimely death in early 1961, was never fulfilled. Good bop-based music. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

OLIVER NELSON WITH LEM WINCHESTER — Nocturne (1960-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | APE (image+.cue), lossless

This relaxed set (originally on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville) puts the emphasis on ballads and slower material. Nelson (switching between alto and tenor) is joined by vibraphonist Lem Winchester, pianist Richard Wyands, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Roy Haynes for four standards and three of his originals (including the swinging "Bob's Blues"). Everyone plays well but the intentional lack of mood variation keeps this release from being all that essential. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

ETTA JONES - Hollar! (1963-2001) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Etta Jones had the spark that made each of her vocals special, though she was never acknowledged properly during a long career. Following her hit "Don't Go to Strangers," she continued to record first-rate songs. Many of her albums were unjustly out of print for decades, though Hollar! was finally reissued by Fantasy as part of their Original Jazz Classics series in 2001. Jones is backed by three separate groups on this release. Guitarist Wally Richardson provides the driving rhythm to back her swinging take of "And the Angels Sing," while vibraphonist Lem Winchester and pianist Richard Wyands support Jones in her emotional rendition of "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." Jones would eventually return to the brisk bop gem "Reverse the Charges" decades after this recording, but this early version is preferable, with a nice interlude by pianist Jimmy Neely. There's a bit of friendly conversation in the studio as Jones gets underway with another swinger, "Our Love Is Here to Stay," adding a boisterous tenor sax solo by Oliver Nelson. This is easily one of Etta Jones' best recordings. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     And the Angels Sing 3:37
Ziggy Elman / Johnny Mercer
2     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:11
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
3     Give Me the Simple Life 2:54
Rube Bloom / Harry Ruby
4     The More I See You 4:13
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
5     Love Is Here to Stay 3:49
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6     Reverse the Charges 2:59
Paul Francis Webster / Clarence Williams
7     They Can't Take That Away from Me 2:52
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8     Answer Me My Love 3:20
Fred Rauch / Carl Sigman / Gerhard Winkler
9     Looking Back 3:44
Brook Benton / Belford Hendricks / Clyde Otis
10     Nature Boy 2:55
Eden Ahbez
Credits :
Bass – Ernest Hayes (faixas: 10), George Duvivier (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7), Michael Mulia (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Drums – Bobby Donaldson (faixas: 10), Roy Haynes (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7), Rudy Lawless (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (faixas: 10), Kenny Burrell (faixas: 10), Wally Richardson (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Piano – Jimmy Neeley (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9), Richard Wyands (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Richardson (faixas: 10), Oliver Nelson (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)
Vibraphone – Lem Winchester (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)