Oliver Nelson’s Post-Bop Classic, ‘The Blues And The Abstract Truth’ Set To Be Reissued

Blues And The Abstract Truth is Oliver Nelson’s triumph. Featuring his all-time classic ‘Stolen Moments’, Nelson assembled one of the most potent modern jazz sextets ever. Now the seminal record is being reissued on June 25,  as part of the Acoustic Sounds series.

Verve/UMe’s acclaimed audiophile-grade all-analog vinyl reissue series will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Impulse! Records and its incomparable and influential catalog this year with a series of high-end vinyl releases of some of the orange-and-black label’s most essential titles. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

The release is accompanied by a deep dive animated video narrated by esteemed author, musician, and producer Greg Tate. Tate has been a leading voice on contemporary Black music, art, literature, film, and politics since launching his career at the Village Voice in the early 1980s.

On Blues And The Abstract Truth, lead trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is at his peak of performance, while alto saxophonists Nelson and Eric Dolphy (Nelson doubling on tenor) team to form an unlikely union that was simmered to perfection. Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Roy Haynes (drums) effortlessly carry the rhythm section.

The Impulse! 60 series will kick off on May 14 with two of the four releases that launched the label known as The House That Trane Built, in 1961: Ray Charles’ singular and long-out-of-print Genius + Soul = Jazz and Gil Evans Orchestra’s superb Out of the Cool. Charles’ album will also be made available digitally for the first time in years. The LPs will be mastered in stereo from the original analog tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, except for Charles which has been mastered by Kevin Gray.

All albums will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality tip-on gatefold jackets, replicating the original Impulse packaging.

Oliver Nelson’s The Blues And The Abstract Truth is out June 25 and is available for pre-order.