Oh Henry! Gospel to my Ears

Henry Butler

March 18, Madam’s Organ, Washington

Recommended beverage: Bourbon & Coke, for $4.75!

His hands just fly over the keys, his heart pouring out in every note. The spirit of the late Professor Longhair is in the room; the spirit of New Orleans envelops him.

Playing solo at Madam’s Organ for a fundraiser to support the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, which supports culture, education, and economic development around New Orleans, Henry Butler pounded the keys as he shifted among styles: blues, jazz, gospel, and funk among them. The foundation could not have picked a more worthy musician for this event, as Butler has played every New Orleans Jazz Fest since its inception in 1970.

“Raise your hands for me if you’re planning to come to Jazz Fest this year,” joked Butler, blind since birth. He opened the first set with a tribute to James Booker and then launched into an array of originals and covers, including Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” and a gorgeous “Old Man River,” both of which are on his latest disc, Pianola Live. The disc is an 11-song collection of his solo work, some recorded in recent years, others decades ago. Fortunately, when his Ninth Ward house was taken by Hurricane Katrina, he salvaged most of his tapes and recordings.

Butler performed six songs from that disc, including his original instrumental, “Orleans Inspiration,” which spans a range of New Orleans musical styles. Instead of playing Allen Touissaint’s “Mother in Law,” from this disc, he chose to cover what is perhaps Touissaint’s most widely recognized song, “Working in a Coal Mine,” performed with Butler’s bluesy spin.

And no Butler show is complete without at least one Professor Longhair song. He played two: “Tipitina” and the infections “Mardi Gras in New Orleans.”

Butler’s music overflows with soul and I found myself not alone in dancing through my tears. It was a spectacular night of music and those attending helped support an urgent cause, as New Orleans continues the arduous process of rebuilding and protecting its heritage.