Oliver Nelson was not just a player, but a fine composer and arranger as well. On this CD he got to do a little of everything.
Clearly Nelson relished the chance to play alongside Jimmy Forrest, a hero of his from his hometown of St. Louis. Just how King Curtis got added to the mix is anyone's guess, but he fits quite well and is heard here playing the most challenging, sophisticated music of his career. Thus the album is not quite the battle that is advertised but a truly one-of-a-kind meeting between three of the major performers of the time.

with Gene Casey, George Duvivier, Roy Haynes