Henri Herbert: Boogie Until I Die
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The trendy-day maestro of the boogie woogie piano, Henri Herbert, is again with a brand new album and able to elevate the roof wherever he goes. With a mixture of basic tunes from the golden period to new self-penned tunes, Boogie Until I Die proves as soon as once more that Henri is unrivalled in bringing this basic style to the fore and dragging it kicking and screaming into the twenty first century.
I’ve little doubt that when the youthful Henri Herbert was looking for some profession recommendation, piano pounding was not one of many beneficial decisions by those that could have wished to steer him in the direction of a protected and regular profession. But it surely’s actually to our collective profit that Henri steered his personal path in life, impressed by the sights and sounds of among the greats of the boogie woogie period corresponding to Jerry Lee Lewis and Albert Ammons, main him on to drag up his stool, elevate the lid on the piano and caress these keys in essentially the most ferocious but exact method anybody might presumably think about.
So right here we are actually in 2022, with Henri having now resided in Austin, Texas for over 3 years and having had the chance to soak up all that the cultural heartland of the music that gave delivery to rock’n’roll might throw at him. When Louder Than Battle final caught up with Henri in January 2021 right here, Henri was in buoyant temper and clearly dwelling life to the complete, despite the challenges that had been offered via the in depth interval of lockdown. This enthusiasm for all times and music has clearly not diminished as he brings us his new album, Boogie Until I Die, and embarks upon a brand new tour of iconic venues throughout the USA to advertise.
Boogie Until I Die is principally a solo piano recording of instrumentals except two vocal tracks and a two-piano duet with the legend that’s Chuck Leavell, contemporary from the Rolling Stones current tour of Europe. It options three of Henri’s personal authentic compositions and eight covers of songs made well-known by among the most interesting exponents of this music. Nonetheless, the sonic shift between the tunes is seamless, demonstrating simply how a lot Henri is emersed within the model and substance of the boogie woogie blues sound via his personal writing.
The opening self-penned title monitor actually units the stall out for Henri’s interpretation of basic barrelhouse boogie piano with the left hand offering a robust and regular rhythm while the wild and free proper hand dances up and down the keys. Henri’s personal Quick Boogie Woogie does precisely what it says on the tin because the depth of his enjoying will increase, while Henri’s third composition, Guitar Boogie begins as a a lot slower and melancholy take earlier than it units off like a practice, albeit with a jauntier rhythm.
Sixth Avenue Specific is tackled as a two-piano duet with Chuck Leavell and is stuffed with melodic twists because the pair navigate their keyboards. The duet could be very a lot within the spirit of its authors, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson who, alongside Meade Lux Lewis created the phenomenon of boogie woogie again within the mid-30’s. This tune recreates the bouncing model of boogie which took New York by storm within the late 30’s, triggered largely by Ammons personal composition Boogie Woogie Stomp, which Henri additionally covers on this album as if overtaken by a pressure of nature.
Should Have Been The Satan is one among solely two vocal takes on the album and this one has a bluesier model symbolic of its composer Otis Spann, who Henri usually cites as one among his best influences. Candy Lorraine, a music beforehand lined by a minimum of Nat King Cole, lastly slows issues again down with a tune which befits a late-night bar in the course of city as its melancholy tone lastly sees the revellers shuffling off into the night time air. This leads seamlessly into the slow-paced prolonged introduction to It Don’t Imply a Factor (If it Ain’t Acquired That Swing), earlier than it bursts into life to change into the basic and extra acquainted jazz normal by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills that we all know and love.
Henri’s impassioned and measured tackle Hymn To Freedom is nothing in need of gorgeous. That is Oscar Peterson’s ode to the Civil Rights Motion with its sacred and soulful overtones weaving via the rolling and gently swinging piano runs. Lengthy Distance Name, the opposite music that includes Henri’s vocals, is a gradual, meditative and soulful tackle a basic Muddy Waters music which was hailed as basic fashionable blues when first launched.
Rounding off the album is Ray Charles’ gradual blues quantity Onerous Instances (No One Is aware of Higher Than I) which actually showcases Henri’s virtuoso model of piano enjoying because it veers seamlessly from a bluesy late-night lament via complicated jazz chords, giving it an intoxicating feeling.
Photograph credit score: Sean Murphy Pictures
There’s little doubt that Henri Herbert has impressed an enormous variety of folks around the globe to take up the piano and hone their abilities within the artwork of boogie woogie. Except for his well-known look at St. Pancras Station in London which has to date amassed over 63 million views on YouTube, Henri’s relentless power and keenness for the music which he so clearly loves has been evidenced going proper again to when he joined The Jim Jones Revue in 2011. This has continued all over his solo profession over the previous 8 years and this has had such an immeasurable affect on making certain this style of music is not only remembered however is taken ahead in new and contemporary methods.
Boogie Until I Die is with out query one other magnificent showcase for boogie woogie blues twenty first century model and is correct up there amongst the perfect work that Henri Herbert has recorded to date. That’s no imply feat in itself however ought to assist to unfold the phrase even additional and usher in a complete new viewers to get pleasure from a grasp at work.
With a US tour simply underway and a date on the Inexperienced Notice in London set for 26 October 2022, a uncommon go to again to the UK, don’t move up the chance to see Henri Herbert carry out these songs in a stay surroundings and have an absolute barnstormer of an evening.
You should buy tickets for the Inexperienced Notice in London right here.
You should buy or stream the album Boogie Until I Die right here.
You could find Henri Herbert on Fb, Twitter, Instagram and his web site.
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All phrases by Ian Corbridge. You could find extra of his writing at his creator profile.
