The Kennedy Dream


The Kennedy Dream is an album by American composer/arranger Oliver Nelson recorded in memory of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. It was released in 1967 on the Impulse! label.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 3½ stars, stating "In February of 1967, Oliver Nelson recognized Kennedy's contributions and assembled a big band to play music in his honor, with taped segments of his speeches as preludes. The result is a heartfelt yet eerie combination, perhaps a bit off-putting, but absolutely relevant decades later. The music is reflective of the changing times as identified by Nelson, ranging from commercial movie score-type music, to soulful or straight-ahead jazz, bop, and the modern big-band sound that the leader, composer, and orchestrator owned... it's a stark reminder of how one man can positively influence the human condition aside from politics and corporate greed, and how another can change his world musically".

Track listing

  1. "Let the Word Go Forth" - 6:16
  2. "A Genuine Peace" - 2:37
  3. "The Rights of All" - 3:57
  4. "Tolerance" - 3:23
  5. "The Artists' Rightful Place" - 3:29
  6. "Jacqueline" - 2:15
  7. "Day in Dallas" - 3:40
  8. "John Kennedy Memory Waltz" - 3:22
''Recorded on February 16 and February 17, 1967.''

Personnel