The Grammy Museum hosts the greatest musical talent in the world. Musical talent isn't what caught my attention on this Monday evening though it was a dominant side note. Henry Butler is an incredible blind New Orleans jazz piano player that dabbles in soulful bluesy numbers that are twisted into his own unique style. He is a sight to watch. His unique talents do not stop there, however, as he is also a very skilled photographer. Playing with two of his beautiful photographic portraits by his side, this 8 time W.C. Handy "Best Blues Instrumentalist- Piano" award nominee has artistic talents that know no boundaries.
Mastering baritone horn, valve trombone, drums, and piano as a child in Baton Rouge, LA., Butler also earned a master degree in Voice from Michigan State University. Giving his talents back to help teach others, he initiated a residential jazz camp at Missouri State School for the Blind as well as introducing programs for blind and visually impaired students at the University of New Orleans.
"I used to do camps and one of the things we always did was a survey or study to observe how the totally blind children used their concentration faster than some of the kids that were partially sighted." "That almost always seemed to be the case."
He began shooting photography in 1984 when he partnered with a woman who was artistically skilled and very articulate. The combination taught Butler how to gain the internal sense of the art. "I used her sense of art and intellect to satisfy my desire [which allowed me] to become a visual artist."
Butler was astounded at the possibilities that opened up to him when he took a visual approach to his new found art. "I found almost immediately that if you show 15 people a photograph you get 15 very different opinions about what it represents." Enjoying the possibilities of different artistic interpretations inspired him to continue pursuing both arts.
His photography inspires his musical work and vice versa. "When I first started doing this, I did it on my own for awhile to see what I got, but the more I did it, and the more I had assistance in doing it, the better my compositions became." As his photography began to open up, so did his approach to music. "I began doing stream of consciousness concerts, where I would go in and not know what I was going to play, but just play." He enjoyed his arts and the combination seemed to fuel each other.
Butler played amazing piano numbers around the Q&A portion of the evening. A hearty soulful rendition of "Dock of the Bay" was the most identifiable piece, but hardly the most moving. His hands fluttered like butterfly wings over the keys at times then slapped them down during other moments. His style is a beautiful mixture of two different instructors which has melded into a unique creation that is purely Henry Butler.
"Something you Got" VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRMfiAjKcfQ
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