Biography
Although better known for his skill as a trumpet player, John Nesbitt left a deeper mark through his arranging work over the course of a short career. Early on he performed with Lillian Jones' Jazz Hounds and with Amanda Randolph. From 1925 to 1931—the ensemble’s most important period—he was a central figure in McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, appearing on every recording the group made in those years. He also participated in a session issued under Jean Goldkette’s name and another with the Chocolate Dandies. In addition, Nesbitt supplied charts to the orchestras led by Fletcher Henderson and by Luis Russell. Once he departed the Cotton Pickers he played with Zack Whyte, Speed Webb, and Earle Warren until his premature death. Largely overlooked today, Nesbitt never headed a recording date of his own.