OLIVER COATES / HISTORY SOUND - O.S.T Decca presents the soundtrack to the 2025 film, The History of Sound. Composed and produced by cellist Oliver Coates, the 27-track album features traditional American roots music with vocal and musical contributions from folk artist Sam Amidon and lead actors Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor.
Elements explores the distinctive sound world of saxophone and harp in a program that moves between Baroque masterworks and newly commissioned music inspired by the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Performed by saxophonist Huw Wiggin and harpist Oliver Wass, the album places Bach, Purcell, Vivaldi and Couperin alongside contemporary works written specially for the duo. Each commission reflects a different elemental idea, from the luminous textures of Charlotte Harding's Euphotic to the volatile energy of Laura Bowler's Caesium and the wind-driven virtuosity of David Wallace's blowing A gale. Interwoven throughout are inventive arrangements of Baroque works, drawing subtle connections across centuries. The pairing of saxophone and harp creates a sound palette that is intimate and richly coloured, capable of lyric stillness and brilliant display. Praised for his "liquid gold tones" by The Times, Wiggin joins forces with leading harpist Oliver Wass in a programme that moves between reflection, drama and radiant beauty.
The Blues and the Abstract Truth is not just a landmark album in Oliver Nelson's career but in the history of jazz itself. The album features an incredible ensemble of top-tier jazz musicians, often referred to as a "supergroup": Oliver Nelson (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, flute), George Barrow (baritone saxophone), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Roy Haynes (drums). The early 1960s were marked by a shift from the hard bop of the 1950s to more experimental forms, including modal jazz, free jazz, and the incorporation of avant-garde elements. Musicians like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Charles Mingus were all pushing the boundaries of jazz, and Oliver Nelson's work fits within this broader movement: in this album there's a perfect combination of modern compositional techniques, virtuosic performances, and emotional depth make it an essential listening experience for any jazz fan. It captures the moment when jazz was evolving into new, exciting directions while staying connected to it's roots in the blues. The Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered one of the essential albums in modern jazz where Oliver Nelson's compositional style blends hard bop, modal jazz, and blues influences with sophisticated harmonic structures and striking arrangements. The album is noted for it's rich orchestration despite having a relatively small ensemble with use of textures and colours, particularly in tracks like "Stolen Moments," created a new standard in jazz arranging.
Vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. 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. 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) & Roy Haynes (drums) can do no wrong as a rhythm section.
Digitally remastered edition. An excellent saxophonist, Oliver Nelson was even better-known as an arranger and his work for others tends to overshadow his own recordings. He worked with a host of names including James Brown, Jimmy Smith and Diana Ross as well as composing the music for such well-known TV shows as Ironside and the Six Million Dollar Man. In the early '70s, busy with TV and film work, he was signed to Flying Dutchman and recorded a series of albums, including this one, at the 1971 Montreux Festival. One side is the title track, written especially for the Festival, while the other saw has him revisiting three of older cuts: 'Blues & the Abstract Truth', 'Black Brown & Beautiful' and 'Stolen Moments'.
