Dave Nelson was a Louisiana-born trumpet player (and nephew of jazz royalty King Oliver) who most famously played on the King Oliver Orchestra’s Victor sides from 1929 through 1931.
He led two sessions with his own band in 1931 that resulted in seven released sides – three on Victor and four on the budget Timely Tunes label. His orchestra, comprised of many “borrowed” players from King Oliver’s Orchestra, were aptly named the “King’s Men”.
I don’t suppose you could have picked a worse time to go out on your own as a bandleader as 1931 during the throes of the Great Depression. After 1931, the next time Dave Nelson appears on a record is 1937 when he played a session with Willie “The Lion” Smith and his Cubs for the Decca label.
Recorded in New York City on January 14, 1931.
Released as Victor 23039.
DAHR reports only 5,976 copies were sold. To give some measure of comparison, Victor 23040 by the Doc Daugherty Orchestra sold well over 12,000 copies
Credits:
David Nelson – trumpet, vocals, director
Melvin Herbert, Harry Brown – trumpet
Wilbur de Paris – trombone
Buster Bailey, Glyn Paque – clarinet, alto sax
Charles Frazier – tenor sax
Wayman Carver – tenor sax, flute
Sam Allen – piano
Arthur Taylor – guitar
Simon Marrero – bass
Gerald Hobson – drums
If you like this tune, be sure to check out Dave Nelson’s “When Day is Done”:
https://youtu.be/N9jyKbSEM-U