Henry Butler

Henry Butler (September 21, 1948 – July 2, 2018)

Butler was mentored at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by clarinetist and educator Alvin Batiste. Butler later earned a master's degree in music at Michigan State University in 1974

In the wake of Katrina's damage, Butler left New Orleans and moved to Boulder, Colorado, then Denver. He spoke of the Colorado period as "a trying exile". Butler's photographs were shown in galleries in New Orleans.

Butler died of cancer in New York City on July 2, 2018, at the age of 69.

Praise Butler was known for his technique and his ability to play in many styles of music. In 1987, music critic Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that Butler "revels in fluency and facility, splashing chords all over the keyboard and streaking through solos with machine-gun articulation". In 1998, critic Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune described Butler as "an enormous intellect matched by unusual physical strength".

Discography As leader Fivin' Around (MCA, 1986) The Village (MCA, 1987) Orleans Inspiration (Windham Hill, 1990) Blues & More (Windham Hill, 1992) For All Seasons (Atlantic, 1996) Blues After Sunset (Black Top, 1998) Vu-Du Menz with Corey Harris (Alligator, 2000) The Game Has Just Begun (Basin Street, 2002) Homeland (Basin Street, 2004) Pianola Live (Basin Street, 2008) Viper's Drag with Steven Bernstein (Impulse!, 2014)