PRJC FREE ZoomJazz Talk: A Tribute to Henry Butler featuring Josh Paxton

FREE ONLINE via Zoom: Dynamic New Orleans–based pianist Josh Paxton celebrates renowned Pianist/Composer Henry Butler in a combo of performance and stories.

PLEASE NOTE: RSVP ON MEETUP DOES NOT REGISTER YOU FOR THIS EVENT! YOU MUST REGISTER USING THIS LINK BY 5 PM ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT TO RECEIVE THE LOGIN INFORMATION TO ATTEND THE EVENT!

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.

Register before 5:00p.m. the day of the presentation to receive the Zoom link. This is a FREE talk, but we appreciate contributions toward the program via "Donation Tickets" which help offset the cost of the program.

The PRJC has been bringing trad jazz and swing music to the DC area for 52 years in the way of concerts, jams, and talks. Our Jazz Talk series centers around early jazz topics and features top musicians and historians. As these are all hosted on Zoom, you can enjoy them wherever you are.

The PRJC began its Jazz Talk series during the pandemic shutdown as a way to support musicians who were less able to work. The series has blossomed into an ongoing project featuring speakers from across the country focusing on trad jazz and swing topics.

Registration for this talk is required by 5pm the night of the event. You will receive the link by email about 30 minutes before the program begins.

You can support the PRJC or our Educational Talks and Concerts with a donation using the Paypal link.

More info is on the Events page of the PRJC web site.

Video recording of the event will be posted on the PRJC YouTube channel after it is completed.

PRJC’s programs are supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.