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Editorial Reviews
Henry Butler, Pianola Live
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The are few musicians that I would call astonishing. New Orleans pianist Henry Butler qualifies to my ears. I remember the first recording of his that I listened to, the marvelous "For All Seasons" on Atlantic. Mostly backed by a trio that included David Holland on bass and Herman Jackson on drums (Steve Turre plays trombone on one track), the album generally is a strong hard bop piano set, but the highpoint is his solo rendition of W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," on which his musical explorations bring a truly fresh take on this classic song. After this disc, his recordings have become less jazz-oriented and more blues-r'n'b focused.
His newest recording is "PianoNOLA" on Basin Street Records. Co-produced by George Winston, who produced Butler's "Orleans Inspiration", this disc is a collection of live solo performances that include several instrumentals as well his renditions of several blues and R&B classics. The strength of this recording is his piano playing especially on the marvelous renditions of `Basin Street Blues,', his own tour de force `Orleans Inspiration,' and the late Alvin Batiste's "North American Idiosyncrasies.' As a vocalist, Butler sometimes come off as a bit melodramatic to these ears (explaining the four stars as opposed to four and half or five), but even on such a well-known number as Professor Longhair's `Tipitina,' he radically reworks it in his stunning original solo and the piano and a wordless vocal part lifts up his rendition of the Ernie K-Doe classic, `Mother-in-Law.' While the overwrought vocal on `Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,' is perhaps the low point, the rollicking `Let It Roll,' (originally on the marvelous "VU-DU-Menz" album with Corey Harris) picks things up. If this reviewer finds this uneven, there is no question that there are many inspired moments throughout this disc. Maybe his wonderful "Orleans Inspiration," will be made readily available again.
His newest recording is "PianoNOLA" on Basin Street Records. Co-produced by George Winston, who produced Butler's "Orleans Inspiration", this disc is a collection of live solo performances that include several instrumentals as well his renditions of several blues and R&B classics. The strength of this recording is his piano playing especially on the marvelous renditions of `Basin Street Blues,', his own tour de force `Orleans Inspiration,' and the late Alvin Batiste's "North American Idiosyncrasies.' As a vocalist, Butler sometimes come off as a bit melodramatic to these ears (explaining the four stars as opposed to four and half or five), but even on such a well-known number as Professor Longhair's `Tipitina,' he radically reworks it in his stunning original solo and the piano and a wordless vocal part lifts up his rendition of the Ernie K-Doe classic, `Mother-in-Law.' While the overwrought vocal on `Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,' is perhaps the low point, the rollicking `Let It Roll,' (originally on the marvelous "VU-DU-Menz" album with Corey Harris) picks things up. If this reviewer finds this uneven, there is no question that there are many inspired moments throughout this disc. Maybe his wonderful "Orleans Inspiration," will be made readily available again.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Gibson
Format:Audio CD
I'm a commercial pianist, and this guy blows me away....incredible command of the instrument, great power and energy. It's that blend of blues and New Orleans piano, along with great pianistic (and very musical) skills that's so appealing. My single-criteria is whether I want to listen to a new CD more than once when I get it, and this one hasn't been out of my office CD player for 2 weeks.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this CD after hearing Henry Butler interviewed on NPR. Sadly, the CD has a very slap-dash, thrown-together quality. Individual songs are rough, with glaring mistakes. Recording dates vary over decades; several songs are covers of Oldies (Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay) when I was looking for his style of Blues. The whole CD seems to be put together as an after thought. I was disappointed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four Stars - Warts & All
I'm not trying to p!ss anyone off or mean disrespect when I write this but this album sounds like a blind man from New Orleans, whose mind overflows with musicality, playing the... Read more
Published on June 26, 2009 by bluejim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Henry Butler's will make your heart sing
Henry Butler is the best! It's impossible to feel sad while listening to him play the piano. Do yourself a favor and discover his music. Read more
Published on January 29, 2009 by Loraine Despres
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Amazing
I saw Mr. Butler a year and a half ago, opening for B.B. King here in Phoenix, at the Dodge Theatre. Seeing him live blew me away. Read more
Published on August 4, 2008 by John D. Tenney
3.0 out of 5 stars
Eccentric and Exciting
PiaNOLA Live admirably captures the strange, hybridized genius of Butler's style. That style is not exactly soothing. It is, however, impressive. Read more
Published on June 9, 2008 by John E. Rogers
