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Henry Butler

"Blues After Sunset"

Black Top BT-1144

Recorded in February, 1998 this disc is relatively hot off the press. I'm generally a guitar aficionado so when I first listened to this cD and found I really liked it no one was more surprised than I. Butler's piano skill is in his controlled and energetic blues styling. Snooks Eaglin on guitar and Mark Kazanoff provide sophisticated complements. Butler's five previous releases have hinted at the blues through jazz interpretations. Blues After Sunset is his first straight blues effort and, since he seems to be having a great time, I hope not his last.

I've Got My Eyes On You begins it with Butler's strong vocals and hammerin' piano. Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand has that familiar cajun rhythm from Henry's home region. Snooks adds a sparse but clean guitar accompaniment. The piano work is lively and all over the keyboard.

I Really Love You is a soulful presentation of Eaglin's guitar with Kazanoff's harp highlights and Butler's undercurrent ivories and deep, wailing voice. Butler's Boogie is just that, an instrumental solo piano boogie. Butler's strong left hand rhythm maintaining the beat for his dancing right hand digits.

Relaxing Blues is a low key amblin', talkin' blues. The three instruments skirt around each other with cool maturity. Eaglin pulls out some clear nerve stirring notes here while Butler's sexy questions are makin' me feel good. Blue Moments is the quintessential instrumental piano blues piece. This is the after-a-few-drinks-end-of-evening-slow-dance-precursor-to-romance. Okay -how would I know? - jus' guessin' it feels like this.

The Marriage Song has the lamenting lyrics and boppy rhythm that exemplifies the mixed feelings we all have when relationships go south. Kazanoff is blowing is heart out - ya think he's been there? The strong piano has me slinking across the floor - aahhh freedom, yes! I'm so confused . . . Tee Na Na is one of four cuts not penned by Butler. He's a New Orleans native, and along with Eaglin they're comfortable enough to give this traditional zydeco zinger a rocky twist.

Bourbon Street Blues is an old timey piano rag. Henry takes it from tinkly light weight to a stomping rouser. Death Has No Mercy is the longest cut on the cD. This piece is a chilling reminiscence of the origins of blues in a sad worker/slave dirge. Henry's voice has a soulful authenticity and the piano cries with the weight of an impossible life.

Tetherball is a happy change of pace beginning with Kazanoff's happy harp. The instruments play off of and dodge each other just like kids at play. Butler adds a very fitting discordance to his intense ivory work. The final cut, a slow rendition of c.c. Rider is given a deep aching reality I hadn't heard before.

Butler plays many of these songs with a feeling of experienced pain. I hope its over for him and only good stuff from here on out. This is a heartfelt set of songs by a very dexterous dude. check it out.

MER