Before his premature death in 1975, at the age of 43, Oliver Nelson established himself as a composer/arranger of quality, not only in the jazz world but in films and television as well. Prior to the time he became highly respected as a writer, however, he had built a reputation as a player. This, as you can judge from the title, was his debut album, and he made it a fine one with the help of the unique trumpet stylings of Kenny Dorham and a crack rhythm section: pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Arthur Taylor. There are four Nelson originals and two ballads, Bob Haggart's "What's New" and Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower."

with Kenny Dorham, Ray Bryant, Wendell Marshall, Arthur Taylor