Hot Jazz, also known as Dixieland, was developed by Big Eye” Louis Nelson Delisle, a clarinet player.
Born in New Orleans in 1885, Delisle was playing professionally in Storyville, where brothels and clubs were located, by the time he was 15.
According to encyclopedia.com, Delisle learned to play double bass, banjo and accordion before specializing in clarinet in 1904. While most clarinetists in New Orleans played B♭clarinets, Delisle played a C clarinet.
From 1905-1912, he played with the Imperial Orchestra, Golden Rule Orchestra, Superior Orchestra and Eagle Band.
“One of the very first jazz clarinetists (as opposed to ones who merely played pre-planned counter-melodies or stuck to reading music),” All Music states, “Nelson performed with the who’s-who of early jazz, including Buddy Bolden and Oscar Celestin.”
In 1916, Delisle left New Orleans to play with the Original Creole Orchestra. He returned to the city a few months later. He played periodically with John Robichaux from 1918 to 1924. For the next 10 years, he worked outside of music; then led his own quartet from 1939-1949.
According to All Music, Delisle only had a few recordings because he remained in the South.
“It is difficult to trace his influence on other New Orleans clarinetists because he did not record during his youth,” encyclopia.com states. “He claimed to have taught Sidney Bechet, while others said that he influenced Jimmie Noone and Johnny Dodds, but these claims are difficult to substantiate.”
Delisle recorded revival-style jazz in 1949. By then, his health had deteriorated. He died in August of that year.
“All of the 1949 sessions (except a few alternate takes) are included on the American Music CD ‘Big Eye Louis Nelson DeLisle,’” All Music states. “Fortunately, he is in pretty good form on these historic performances that are his recorded legacy.”
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