Louis Nelson Creole Jazz Band
b. 17 September 1902, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 5 April 1990. Nelson grew up in a cultured family; his mother was a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, his father was a physician. After starting out on alto horn, he switched to trombone in the '20s. Working mostly with bands in and around New Orleans, including those led by Oscar ‘Papa’ Celestin and Kid Rena, he built a sound reputation during the '30s. During this period he also worked often with the popular big band led by Sidney Desvigne. In the early '40s he joined Kid Thomas and in the '50s was a regular member of the band led by George Lewis, with whom he toured extensively. In the '60s Nelson also worked with the New Orleans Joymakers, the Legends Of Jazz, Kid Thomas, Peter Bocage, Sammy Rimington and other leading New Orleans-style musicians. For many years he was a frequent performer at Preservation Hall in his home town. Although best known for his New Orleans playing, Nelson's style incorporated many elements foreign to the form; an attribute that is due, most observers believe, to the time spent with Desvigne. This gave him a somewhat different approach to music than that followed by stalwarts of the tradition, such as Jim Robinson. Indeed, many keen followers of Nelson's work consider his sophisticated trombone playing to be more akin to that of Tommy Dorsey rather than that of the earthier New Orleanians. Nelson could still be heard at Preservation Hall in the late '80s and into early 1990, when, in April, he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. He continued working for a few days, but one night on the bandstand he complained of feeling unwell and collapsed. He died the following day.