Search - Henry Butler :: Blues & More 1

Buy this gem NOW, while you can!

Nobody important | 06/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Henry Butler may be my favorite piano player. (Some days, I might say McCoy Tyner, but it is a close call). He can play everything with style, grace, virtuosity, and most importantly, soul. His voice is gospel-influenced, but sounds slightly affected, and it is an acquired taste that I have acquired. Stylistically, he has broad interests, but on this album, he plays mostly New Orleans blues with just some hints of jazz and funk. He also plays solo, which is a great format for such a powerful player. The sound is somewhat similar to Dr. John's solo piano albums, Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack Volumes 1 & 2, but Henry Butler is a flashier instrumentalist. This one is a gem, and probably my favorite Henry Butler album.



His other solo piano album is a live album, PiaNOLA Live (Get it? Pia- NewOrleansLouisianA?), but somehow, his piano sounds brighter on this recording. This isn't a dig at his playing on PiaNOLA, it is a dig at the production on that album. I just prefer the sound on this one. Of all the Henry Butler recordings, this is the one I keep coming back to. For some reason, it seems to have gone out of print, so buy it now used while you still can. He is the true heir to the legacy of Professor Longhair and the other greats from the old days of New Orleans piano."