Backgrounder: Oliver Nelson - Taking Care of Business

Last week, following my series on organ combos, Bill Kirchner sent along a terrific Backgrounder suggestion: Oliver Nelson's Taking Care of Business, Nelson's second leadership date. Recorded in March 1960, the album featured Oliver Nelson (as,ts), Lem Winchester (vib), Johnny “Hammond" Smith (org), George Tucker (b) and Roy Haynes (d).

The tracks:

• Trane Whistle (Oliver Nelson)
• Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
• In Time (Nelson)
• Lou's Good Dues Blues (Nelson)
• All the Way (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen)
• Groove (Nelson)

Talk about a quintet that's in the pocket! We have the smooth and cool Oliver Nelson accompanied by the icy vibes of Winchester, the huffy organ of Smith, the sharp time-keeping of Tucker and the polyrhythms of Haynes. And the song choices are perfect.

Here's Oliver Nelson's Talking Care of Business without ad interruptions...



As for that little cooker at the end called Groove, Bill also sent along this track of Groove by Maynard Ferguson in 1963 arranged by Nelson.