PRJC Zoom Jazz Talk: A Tribute to Henry Butler featuring Josh Paxton

Henry Butler (1948–2018) was a celebrated American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and composer renowned for his virtuosic technique and deep roots in New Orleans music traditions. Blind since birth, Butler blended jazz, blues, funk, and Caribbean rhythms into a distinctive sound, earning acclaim as one of the greatest modern interpreters of New Orleans piano. A passionate educator and photographer, he performed internationally, recorded numerous albums, and collaborated with legends such as Dr. John and Nicholas Payton. Butler’s artistry and advocacy left a lasting legacy in both music and culture.

Josh Paxton is a dynamic New Orleans–based pianist celebrated for fusing the Crescent City’s deep piano traditions with modern jazz sensibilities, classical technique, and funky rhythmic flair. Trained under Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans—where he earned his master’s degree—Paxton has become a fixture of the city’s music scene, performing as both a solo artist and sideman with artists like Bruce Hornsby, Maria Muldaur, the Wild Magnolias, and Debbie Davis . A recognized authority on New Orleans piano legends, he has published transcriptions of James Booker, Professor Longhair, and more

Join us as Paxton pays tribute to the late and celebrated Henry Butler in a combination of piano performance and discussion of the artistry that made him a musical legend.

This session is offered via Zoom. Registration is required before 5:00p.m. the day of the program to receive the link to join the session. All of our Jazz Talks are FREE to the public, but we appreciate donation tickets of any amount to help offset the costs of the series.