Afro/American Sketches

Afro/American Sketches
Studio album by
Oliver Nelson Orchestra
ReleasedFebruary 1962[1]
RecordedSeptember 29 & November 10, 1961
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
GenreJazz
Length41:30
LabelPrestige
PRLP 7225
Oliver Nelson Orchestra chronology
Main Stem
(1961) 		Afro/American Sketches
(1962) 		Impressions of Phaedra
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Down Beat[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[5]

Afro/American Sketches is a jazz album by Oliver Nelson recorded in late 1961 and released in 1962. It is his first big band album as a leader.[6]

In a June 7, 1962, review for Down Beat magazine jazz critic Richard B. Hadlock said this of Nelson: "In his penchant for melodic simplicity and inner complexity he is close to the secret of Duke Ellington's most enduring scores, and in his thick linear voicing there are echoes of Gil Evans at his best."[7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nelson.

  1. "Message" – 5:56
  2. "Jungleaire" – 6:33
  3. "Emancipation Blues" – 8:11
  4. "There's a Yearnin'" – 4:24
  5. "Going Up North" – 6:11
  6. "Disillusioned" – 5:36
  7. "Freedom Dance" – 4:39

Recorded on September 29 (#1, 3, 4, 6, 7) and November 10 (#2, 5), 1961.

Personnel

Tracks 2, 5

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

  • Oliver Nelson – arranger, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Jerry Kail, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Paul Faulise, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman – trombone
  • Ray Alonge, Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto sax, flute
  • Eric Dixon – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Bob Ashton – tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Patti Bown – piano
  • Peter Makas, Charles McCracken – violoncello
  • Art Davis – bass
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Ray Barretto – congas, bongos

References

  1. ^ Billboard Feb 24, 1962
  2. ^ Down Beat: June 7, 1962, vol. 29, no. 12
  3. ^ Allmusic review
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 151. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1071. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  6. ^ Afro/American Sketches at Jazzdisco
  7. ^ Down Beat: June 7, 1962, vol. 29, no. 12