Oliver Nelson

Black, Brown And Beautiful (Limited Gatefold) (HIQLP 114)

Black, Brown And Beautiful (Limited Gatefold) View larger

2023

Black, Brown And Beautiful (Limited Gatefold)

Oliver Nelson

Flying Dutchman

029667017312

LPS 172599

HIQLP 114

JAZZ

1

LP 26,98 €

180 GRAM VINYL

Originally released in 1970, “Black, Brown and Beautiful” saw legendary composer and arranger Oliver Nelson musically address the state of black America in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King.

Tracks like Requiem, Lamb Of God and Martin Was A Man, A Real Man directly address the passing of King, whereas Self Help Is Needed and Hope In Time A Change Will Come orchestrally and passionately ask questions that still remain unanswered today.

Indeed, Nelson writing about the track Self Help Is Needed stated “I have always felt that the Federal Government wasn’t going to do a damn thing and American Blacks were going to have to do it themselves. However, you can’t have a foot on your neck making it impossible for you to help yourself. That seems logical – doesn’t it?” Sadly, those words still hold true today.

Musically, this is a sumptuous almost big band banquet with Nelson himself talking the soprano sax solo on the aching I Hope In Time A Change Will Come./p>

Those who are fans of classic Nelson albums like The Blues And The Abstract Truth (1961) and the equally polemical The Mayor And The People (1971) will find much to enjoy here.

TRACKS:

  • SIDE A
  • A1 Aftermath
  • A2 Requiem
  • A3 Lamb Of God
  • A4 Martin Was A Man, A Real Man
  • SIDE B
  • B1 Self-Help Is Needed
  • B2 I Hope In Time A Change Will Come
  • B3 3, 2, 1, 0
  • B4 Black, Brown And Beautiful
  • B5 Requiem, Afterthoughts