OLIVER NELSON WITH ERIC DOLPHY

Straight Ahead (New Jazz)

A reissue of an early '60s date with Dolphy wreaking meaningful havoc on Nelson's bluesy structures while Nelson himself improvises in a conceptually confident manner—though it's the different effects that the bluesy ranconteur and the free-associating speed-rapper have on each other which keep the record interesting (My Dinner With Eric?). Also notable is Dolphy's bass clarinet spot on 'Ralph's New Blues,' which annotator Joe Goldberg calls 'one of his best recorded solos,' and I think he's right. Another budget buy in the Original Jazz Classics series. R.C.W.

SAFETY LAST

Struck By Love (Twin/Tone)