Louis Cottrell, Jr.

Louis Albert Cottrell, Jr. (March 7, 1911, New Orleans - March 21, 1978, New Orleans) was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He was the son of Louis Cottrell, Sr., and grandfather of New Orleans jazz drummer Louis Cottrell III.

Cottrell studied clarinet under Lorenzo Tio and Barney Bigard. He played with the Golden Rule Orchestra and then with Polo Barnes in 1925. Later in the 1920s he worked with Chris Kelly and Kid Rena, then found work on the riverboat "SS Island Queen" with the Young Tuxedo Orchestra and Sidney Desvigne (1929). He joined Don Albert's orchestra soon after, touring widely throughout North America until 1939. After leaving Albert he returned to New Orleans, playing with Paul Barbarin (1940) and A.J. Piron (1941), then returned to play with Desvigne from 1942 to 1947. In the 1950s he played again with Barbarin, and recorded with him in 1962-64.

Cottrell first recorded as a leader in 1961, and as a sideman with Peter Bocage, Jim Robinson (1961-64), Harold Dejan (1962), Thomas Jefferson (1962), Sweet Emma Barrett (1963), Waldren Joseph (1964), Kid Howard (1964), and the Onward Brass Band (1968). He led the Onward Brass Band after Paul Barbarin's death in 1969. He was the leader of the Heritage Hall Jazz Band and performed up until his death. He, along with Alvin Alcorn were the first to create the Sunday Jazz brunch.

Cottrell was an active unionist, and worked for the American Federation of Musicians from the 1940s; he was elected its president in 1956.

References

*Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, "The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz". Oxford, 1999, p. 153.
*Mike Hazeldine, "Louis Cottrell, Jr.". "Grove Jazz" online.