Piano virtuoso Henri Herbert brings boogie-woogie to Blue Note Hawaiʻi
British boogie-woogie and blues pianist Henri Herbert is playing Blue Note Hawaiʻi, good news for fans of high-energy, old-school piano blues.
- Herbert promises a loud, fast, rhythm-driven show built on the rolling left-hand style of 1930s and 40s Chicago blues piano.
- He traces the sound forward into rock and roll, and even hip-hop, calling boogie-woogie the root of a lot of popular music.
- He got hooked at age seven after hearing a Little Richard record, and names James Brown as another big influence.
- Recent gigs include a 4,000-person outdoor show in India, dates with Bryan Adams in California, and a session with New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band.
- A new album, built around collaborations with singer and musician friends, is on the way — the hardest part was lining up everyone's schedules.
Outlook: The Blue Note show is set for tomorrow, with the collaborative album due out after that.