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NANCE, RAY (1913–1976). A trumpeter, violinist, and vocalist, Ray Nance led groups in the Chicago area during the 1930s and played in bands led by Earl Hines and Horace Henderson. In 1940, Nance joined Duke Ellington’s orchestra, with whom he would remain until 1963, with a break to lead his own group in 1944. After his time with Ellington, Nance continued to lead his own small groups, including one notable septet that included Tiny Grimes, J. C. Higginbotham, Slam Stewart, and others. Nance contributed many important solos to the Ellington repertoire, notably his solo on “Take the ‘A’ Train” in 1941. See also VIOLIN.

NANTON, JOE “TRICKY SAM” (1904–1946). A trombonist, Joseph “Tricky Sam” Nanton played with Elmer Snowden and a few other bands before joining Duke Ellington in 1926. Nanton remained with Ellington virtually until his death, having successfully transferred trumpeter Bubber Miley’s distinctive plunger mute growl sound to the trombone, occasionally with a sound that was highly imitative and evocative of the human voice.

NASH, RICHARD TAYLOR “DICK” (1928– ). A trombone player, Dick Nash played with Sam Donahue, Glen Gray, Tex Beneke, and others during the late 1940s, and during the Korean War he played in military bands. From the late 1950s, Nash has enjoyed a very successful career as a studio musician.

NATIONAL. A record label established in 1944 in New York. Artists include Charlie Ventura, Billy Eckstine, and others.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JAZZ EDUCATORS (NAJE). The precursor to the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the National Association of Jazz Educators was formed in 1968. The group became the International Association of Jazz Educators in 1989 and remained active until 2008.

NATIONAL JAZZ SERVICE ORGANIZATION (NJSO). An organization based in Washington, D.C., that was founded in 1984 by David Baker, Donald Byrd, and others. The organization focuses on the development and support of jazz and is no longer in existence.

NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA. A group formed in London in 1965 by British educator Bill Ashton. The group remains active today and is open by audition to musicians under the age of 25. The repertoire is drawn from British composers (who are usually former members of the band), and the group performs regularly.

NAVARRO, THEODORE “FATS” (1923–1950). A trumpet player, Fats Navarro toured with bands right out of high school, eventually landing with Andy Kirk from 1943 to 1944. In 1945, Navarro joined Billy Eckstine’s band, ably replacing Dizzy Gillespie. Navarro left the band in 1946 and spent the rest of his short life performing with Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Charlie Parker, and other leading musicians of the Bebop movement. Extremely influential to a young Clifford Brown, Navarro died from a combination of tuberculosis and drug addiction.

NELSON, DAVE (1905–1946). A trumpet player, pianist, composer, and arranger, Dave Nelson was the nephew of King Joe Oliver, and during the 1920s he played with Ma Rainey, Jelly Roll Morton, Jimmie Noone, and others before joining Oliver’s band for a short stint in 1930. Thereafter, Nelson led his own groups and during the 1940s worked as an arranger for Lewis Publishing before passing away from a heart attack.

NELSON, LOUIS “BIG EYE” (1885–1949). A clarinetist, “Big Eye” Louis Nelson worked with many bands in New Orleans before World War I, including the Imperial Orchestra, the Golden Rule Orchestra, the Imperial Band, and the Superior Orchestra. At one time reputed to have played bass with Buddy Bolden, Nelson also played with King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton before moving to Chicago in the mid-1910s to play with Freddie Keppard. Nelson moved back to New Orleans in 1918 and worked with John Robichaux until 1925, and he led his own groups during the 1930s and 1940s.

NELSON, OLIVER (1932–1975). A saxophonist and composer, Oliver Nelson played with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and with George Hudson in the late 1940s and spent the early part of the 1950s in a military band. After leaving the military, Nelson went to college and then moved to New York in 1958, working briefly with Louie Bellson. In the early 1960s, Nelson played with Eric Dolphy, Duke Ellington, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Wild Bill Davison, and Quincy Jones, and he recorded what is probably his most famous album, Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961), which featured his composition, “Stolen Moments.” In 1967, Nelson moved to the West Coast, and he continued to lead groups and tour, in addition to writing for TV and film, before dying of a heart attack in 1975.

NESTICO, SAMUEL “SAMMY” (1924– ). A composer and arranger, Sammy Nestico arranged music for military bands for 15 years before he became the arranger for Count Basie in 1967, and the albums upon which his music appeared won several Grammy Awards. Nestico has since worked as a composer and arranger for television and film, and he has been active in the area of jazz education in addition to continuing to write and publish big band music. He is also the author of the textbook The Complete Arranger (1994) and remains an active composer and arranger.

NEWBORN, PHINEAS, JR. (1931–1989). A pianist and composer, Phineas Newborn played in a Rhythm and Blues (R&B) band run by his father during the 1940s before playing with Lionel Hampton in 1950 and again in 1952. After serving in the military during the mid-1950s, Newborn began leading his own groups and performed with Charles Mingus, Roy Haynes, and others. He continued to play into the 1960s, but starting in the middle of the decade his career began to give way to bouts of mental illness and alcoholism, and he played and recorded only sporadically for the rest of his life.

NEW BLACK EAGLE JAZZ BAND. A group formed in 1971 that performs traditional, New Orleans style jazz. The group continued to perform and tour into the 1990s.

NEW HOT PLAYERS. A jazz group formed in Switzerland during the 1930s and active in Europe in various guises into the 1950s.

NEWMAN, DAVID “FATHEAD” (1933–2009). A saxophonist, David “Fathead” Newman played in groups with Cedar Walton and Ornette Coleman while he was a teenager before joining Ray Charles from 1954 to 1964. After his time with Charles, Newman spent a few years in Dallas, Texas, before moving to New York in 1966. During the 1970s, Newman worked again with Charles for a year before spending 1972 to 1974 with Herbie Mann. Newman continued to record and lead his own groups into the 1990s.

NEWMAN, JOSEPH “JOE” (1922–1992). A trumpet player and composer, Joe Newman played in college big bands until joining Lionel Hampton in 1941. Newman then spent the rest of the decade alternating between playing with Count Basie and Illinois Jacquet. Newman rejoined Basie in 1952 and played with the band until 1961, and from the 1960s Newman toured with Benny Goodman and led his own groups.

NEW ORLEANS FOOTWARMERS. A group formed in 1932 and led by Sidney Bechet that was active into the 1940s.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ. A genre of jazz that developed in New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century. Typical instrumentation included cornet, clarinet, trombone, banjo, tuba (or bass), and drums. New Orleans style jazz went through a revival during the 1940s and 1950s and is still performed today. Important musicians of the New Orleans Jazz style include King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and many others. See also EARLY JAZZ; ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND; ORIGINAL MEMPHIS FIVE; TRADITIONAL JAZZ.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL. A festival founded in 1968, and held annually since, that showcases many different styles of jazz.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB. An organization established in 1948 by members and fans of the New Orleans jazz scene. The organization has published a journal titled Second Line since 1950.

NEW ORLEANS RHYTHM KINGS (NORK). A band formed in 1922 by George Brunies, Elmer Schoebel, and others in Chicago. The group recorded several excellent albums and was one of the leading bands in Chicago before disbanding in 1925.

NEW ORLEANS WANDERERS. A group formed in 1926 that included Lil Hardin, Johnny Dodds, Kid Ory, Johnny St. Cyr, and others. The group was formed for a two-day recording session and was never active again.

NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL. A jazz festival founded in 1954 that was held annually in Newport, Rhode Island, before moving to New York from 1971. Long directed by George Wein, it was brought back to Newport in 1981. Many significant jazz performances occurred at the Newport festival.

NEW YORK ART QUARTET. A group founded in 1964 that was active until 1966 and performed music in the Free Jazz style. The group’s members included Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, Don Moore, and J. C. Moses. See also NEW YORK CONTEMPORARY FIVE.

NEW YORK CONTEMPORARY FIVE. A group active from 1963 to 1964 that was formed by Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, John Tchicai, Don Moore, and J. C. Moses. See also NEW YORK ART QUARTET.

NEW YORKERS. A band that was active from 1927 to 1929 that included Dave Tough. The group recorded and toured Europe and is credited with bringing Chicago Jazz to Europe.

NEW YORK JAZZ QUARTET. A group formed in 1972 by Roland Hanna, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, and Hubert Laws. Later members included Frank Wess, Ben Riley, and George Mraz, and the group played together until 1982.

NEW YORK JAZZ SEXTET. A group consisting of Art Farmer, James Moody, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Tom McIntosh, Tommy Flanagan, and Richard Davis that recorded in the mid-1960s. The name was also used by a group led by Roland Hanna that eventually became the New York Jazz Quartet.

NEW YORK SAXOPHONE QUARTET. A group formed in 1959 that performs a mix of French Classical music and jazz. The group is dedicated to commissioning new works for the saxophone ensemble and performs contemporary cutting-edge music.

NICHOLAS, ALBERT (1900–1973). A clarinetist, Nicholas Albert concluded military service in 1919 and during the 1920s and 1930s had several stints working with King Oliver, Luis Russell, Chick Webb, and others before joining Louis Armstrong from 1937 to 1939. During the 1940s, Nicholas played with Zutty Singleton, John Kirby, Jelly Roll Morton, Baby Dodds, Wild Bill Davison, Kid Ory, Sidney Bechet, and others. During the 1950s, Nicholas also played with Rex Stewart and settled in Paris in 1953, remaining in Europe and touring and performing until his death.

NICHOLAS BROTHERS. The Nicholas Brothers consisted of Fayard and Harold Nicholas, a duo who worked as singers and tap dancers. The group became well known working at the Cotton Club during the 1930s, performing with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, and others. Their career expanded to Broadway and film, but they eventually moved to Europe to find a more racially open-minded audience. They split briefly but later reunited and continued to appear together.

NICHOLS, ERNEST LORING “RED” (1905–1965). A cornetist and bandleader, Red Nichols moved to New York in the mid-1920s and worked with Paul Whiteman, played in Broadway orchestras, and recorded extensively with his own groups, most famously Red Nichols and His Five Pennies. Among the more famous sidemen in his group were Miff Mole, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, among others. Nichols continued to lead bands both big and small into the 1940s, and a 1959 biographical film titled The Five Pennies sparked a renewed interest in his career late in his life.

NIEHAUS, LENNIE (1929– ). A saxophonist, composer, and arranger, Lennie Niehaus played in Stan Kenton’s big band during the 1950s, with a two-year interruption owing to military service. From the 1960s he has continued to perform but has worked mostly as a composer and arranger, writing jazz music and also music for television and film. Additionally, he works as an educator and pedagogue.

NIEWOOD, GERRY (1943–2009). A saxophonist, Gerry Niewood moved to New York and joined Chuck Mangione’s band from 1968 to 1976. After leaving Mangione’s group, Niewood played with the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra briefly before joining Chuck Israel’s National Jazz Ensemble in 1976. Niewood worked with Dave Matthews from 1977 through 1986 and appeared with Gerry Mulligan in 1979. During the 1980s and on, Niewood mostly led his own groups and freelanced. Niewood died in a plane crash on the way to play a concert with Mangione.

NIMMONS, PHIL(IP) RISTA (1923– ). A clarinetist, composer, and bandleader, Phil Nimmons studied at Juilliard in the 1940s and formed a band for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1953. The band, under the names of Nimmons ’n’ Nine or Nimmons ’n’ Nine Plus Six, appeared frequently on Canadian television and toured widely until disbanding in 1980. Nimmons is considered one of the preeminent figures in Canadian jazz.

NISTICO, SAL(VATORE) (1940–1991). A saxophonist, Sal Nistico was a cousin of Sammy Nestico. Nistico played with Rhythm and Blues (R&B) groups before joining Chuck Mangione’s Gap Brothers band from 1959 to 1961. Nistico then played with Woody Herman from 1962 to 1965, Count Basie in 1965 and again in 1967, and again with Herman from 1968 to 1970. During the 1970s, Nistico appeared with Don Ellis, Slide Hampton, Herman, Buddy Rich, Chuck Israel’s National Jazz Ensemble, and others, in addition to leading his own groups. Nistico remained active in the 1980s, recording with Johnny Griffin as well as with his own groups.

NOBLE, RAY (1903–1978). A composer, arranger, and bandleader, Ray Noble was a staff arranger at HMV Records during the early 1930s and led the company’s New Mayfair Orchestra with much success. Noble moved to the United States and led a group at the Rainbow Room in New York City that included Glenn Miller, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Spivak, and others from 1935 to 1937. Thereafter, Noble worked in California as a radio personality in addition to leading his own bands. Among Noble’s most famous compositions is his tune “Cherokee,” which was the theme song for Charlie Barnet’s band, the basis for Charlie Parker’s hit “Koko,” and is also generally regarded as a measuring stick of a Bebop improviser’s technical dexterity.

NOONE, JIMMIE (1895–1944). A clarinetist and bandleader, Jimmie Noone replaced Sidney Bechet in Freddie Keppard’s band from 1913 to 1914. After his time with Keppard, Noone formed the Young Olympia Band and played with Kid Ory. From 1917 to 1918, Noone toured with Keppard, and in 1918, Noone and King Oliver both moved to Chicago and played with Bill Johnson. From 1920 to 1926, Noone played with Doc Cook’s Dreamland Orchestra, and from 1926 on, Noone led his own groups, which at one point included Earl Hines on piano. In the 1940s, Noone benefited from the revival of interest in New Orleans Jazz and Dixieland, performing and recording with Ory, Jack Teagarden, and others.

NORDSKOG. A record label established in 1921 in Santa Monica, it was the first company to release a record of an African-American ensemble from New Orleans. Artists included Kid Ory. The label went bankrupt in 1923.

NORSK JAZZFORBUND. A group founded in Norway in 1965 that helped to foster the development of jazz in that country.

NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL. A jazz festival held annually in The Hague since 1976 and still in existence today.

NORVO, KENNETH “RED” (1908–1999). A vibraphonist, Red Norvo played in a marimba band before being hired by Paul Whiteman, with whom he played until 1932. While with Whiteman, Norvo met and married Mildred Bailey, and from 1936 they co-led an orchestra in New York. In the mid-1940s, Norvo played with Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker before joining Woody Herman in 1946. From 1947 on, he led groups, which included at various times Charles Mingus, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, Dick Hyman, and others. See also VIBRAPHONE.

NOTATION. The practice of writing down music for performers using established conventions. Jazz notation specifically differs from regular notation in that during improvised sections, the music does not contain written pitches for the instrumentalist to play, but rather a series of slashes with chord symbols placed above them to show the soloist the harmony that the accompaniment is playing. See also CHANGES; IMPROVISATION.

NOTO, SAM (1930– ). A trumpet player, Sam Noto played with Stan Kenton from 1953 to 1958 and rounded out the decade with appearances with Louie Bellson and Woody Herman. During the 1960s he played with Count Basie in addition to leading his own groups. From 1969 to 1975, Noto worked in Las Vegas show bands, and from 1975 to 1982 he played with Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass. Noto has continued to lead groups and play in show bands.

NUCLEUS. A highly influential English Fusion band formed by Ian Carr in 1969. The group was active in the 1980s, and there have been sporadic reunions since, including 2005 and 2007.