Coldwater Flat - The Three Sound & Oliver Nelson

 

Star Trek

Coldwater Flat

The Three Sounds and The Oliver Nelson Orchestra

Produced by Jack Tracy

Arranger: Oliver Nelson

Art Direction: Woody Woodward

Design: Gabor Halmos

Cover Photography: Ken Kim

Blue Note BST-84285

A Product of Liberty Records

1968

The Three Sounds:

Gene Harris - Piano

Andrew Simpkins - Bass

Donald Bailey - Drums

From the inside cover: No matter what jazz persuasion you may prevailingly subscribe to, you should be warmly snug to be in the jazz aura of the meld of The Three Sounds and the big band conducted by Oliver Nelson. This value judgement is made in response to the current examination of the gross lack of communication between what composer-musicologist George Rochberg terms the performance culture – which continues to dominate the classical music world of our society – and the creative culture which is trying to modify and extend the range of musical consciousness. Rochberg is disenchanted with the unhealthy way in which the curators of the performance culture and Musical Establishment invest only in a repertoire marked with past success. This condition is relevant to one of the several directions jazz has been moving in. Specifically, the vital experience of contemporary culture representing what occurs on the screen, on the stage, in art galleries, in books, and the music of the younger generation does, indeed, contribute to the jazz repertoire. But the repertoire is just one of many components of concern in the world of jazz. Another basic difference is that jazzmanship in its natural set of behavioral relationships fuses both performance and creativeness into a single system. And it is this blending process which the team of The Three Sounds and Oliver Nelson achieve so beautifully on this album.

By reputation and in fact, The Three Sounds is a tight swinging trio. Have you ever shared the music of The Three Sounds in person? Unless one is anesthetized or completely out of it in some other way(s) it is literally inconceivable that the driving, buoyant swing and tenacity does not imprison your attention. Overt enjoyment in performing for its audiences reflect the trio's desire to share the music: this expectancy is a consistent and happy one wherein there holds high respect for his bassist of twelve years, Andy Simpkins and drummer Donald Bailey whose attributes triggers Gene into praise. Gene has said, "This is the trio I've been waiting for." This inspired, open attitude prompts this remark, "I never hold the trio back. I let the guys go wherever the feelings direct them. I believe that music should be shared."

On this LP the performing and creating act is shared by Oliver Nelson whose ace-high services for big band scoring assignments is sought by more people than he can probably accommodate. This gifted craftsman is highly regarded for his unconventional, challenging and fresh approaches to arranging and composing. He is a natural complement to the philosophy of the trio because Oliver's music swings up front and swings big. The symbiotic process on this album began with the trio recording precisely what they wanted to sound like as a unit without orchestral embellishment. – for he decided to arrange the big band score on the rationale of remaining unobtrusive and providing a supportive backdrop. Therefore, working around the trio's original arrangements meant that the integrity of its concepts was judiciously preserved. Following these phases, the recording was ultimately produced together in the studio.

Regarding Oliver's ability to capture the feeling, essence, and flavor of the trio, Gene Harris was enthusiastic, "Oliver felt everything I was doing, utilizing the trio's chord progressions. His basic approach was fitting the reeds and trombones to my left hand and the trumpets to my right. Oliver was stimulated by the fullness of our sound and he was elated with the session. And it's a rare thing today in the studios when musicians in the whole band hang around to dig the replays!" And about big bands, Gene commented, "I dig big bands! You know I play with all ten fingers, but I wish I had fifteen." – Herb Wong - KJAZ, San Francisco and Jazz Editor, Urban West and FM & the Fine Arts

Lonely Bottles

The Look Of Love (from the Columbia Pictures release "Casino Royale")

Georgia

Grass Is Greener

Coldwater Flat

Last Train To Clarksville

My Romance

Do Do Do (What Now Is Next)

Star Trek