A versatile trumpeter with a wide range, an appealing tone, and strong technical skills, Nick Travis spent much of his truncated career as a studio musician although he was a fine jazz improviser too. Travis picked up early experience playing professionally from the age of 15. He worked with Johnny McGhee, Vido Musso (1942), Mitch Ayres, and Woody Herman (off and on during 1942-1944) before serving in the military. After his discharge, Travis played with many bands including Ray McKinley (on and off during 1946-1950), Benny Goodman (1948-1949), Gene Krupa, Ina Ray Hutton, Tommy Dorsey, Tex Beneke, Woody Herman again (1950-1951), Jerry Gray, Bob Chester, Elliot Lawrence, and Jimmy Dorsey (1952-1953). Travis gained some recognition for his work as a key soloist with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra (1953-1956) but then he went into the anonymous world of the studios as a member of the NBC staff. Nick Travis emerged now and then, playing section parts with Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Orchestra during 1960-1962 and performing at Lincoln Center with Thelonious Monk's medium-size group in late 1963. He died unexpectedly in 1964 (at the age of 38) from ulcers. Nick Travis led a record date of his own for Victor in 1954 and he was also well featured on recordings with the small groups of Al Cohn (1953) and Zoot Sims (1956). ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
