Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra
The Music of Oliver Nelson—Black, Brown and Beautiful
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:30pm CST
Galvin Recital Hall
Derrick Gardner, conductor; Oliver Nelson, Jr., guest artist
Oliver Nelson was a saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 album The Blues and the Abstract Truth is regarded as one of the most significant recordings of its era, with Nelson’s composition “Stolen Moments” featuring as its centerpiece. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nelson became a highly sought-after composer for television and film, with his work being featured in The Six Million Dollar Man and Columbo, as well as Death of a Gunfighter, Dial Hot Line, and The Alpha Caper. His 1969 album Black, Brown and Beautiful addressed the state of Black America in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and was hailed by journalist Douglas Payne as “A stirring tribute to Martin Luther King that is as searching and angry as it is contemplative and compassionate.” The Jazz Orchestra, together with special guest Oliver Nelson, Jr., celebrates Nelson and his landmark work.
This performance is sponsored in part by WDCB 90.9 FM.
Tickets are $8 for the general public and $5 for students with valid ID.
Sold OutProgram (All selections by Oliver Nelson)
“Martin Was a Man, a Real Man”
“I Hope in Time a Change Will Come”
“Black, Brown and Beautiful”
“Self-Help Is Needed”
“Blues for Dear Old Dad”
“3, 2, 1, 0”
“Emancipation Blues”
Sound Piece for Jazz Orchestra
Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall
Address
70 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
United States
About
Located in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, this 400-seat hall features a 40-foot glass wall offering views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Undulating walls of Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood, covered with a thin layer of African moabi wood, provide optimal acoustics, and the hall is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and video equipment for recording.