Home  |  Hi-Fi Audio Reviews  Audiophile Shows Partner Mags  News       

 

 

Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine

Henry Gray

Review by Dave Glackin
Click here to e-mail reviewer

Henry Gray

LP Stock Number: APO 45rpm LP (APO 001)

 

  Ever wanted to hear what one of the biggest blues pianists of the Chicago of the 1950's really sounds like solo? Well now you can, up close and personal, thanks to Chad Kassem and Blue Heaven Studios. Henry was one of the featured artists at Chad's third annual "Blues Masters at the Crossroads" festival in Salina, Kansas, in October, 2000 (see show report by clicking here). That fabulous event is covered elsewhere in this publication in my article entitled "Livin' With The Blues in Salina."

Henry recorded with Bo Diddley, Little Walter, and many others, and he played with Howlin' Wolf from 1956 - 1968. He's still in high demand internationally as a performer, and one fall day in the middle of Kansas I found out why.

Offstage, Henry is pretty sedate, and he does not like to reveal too much of himself. But when he gets onstage, watch out. Henry really got the place rockin' with his two-fisted boogie woogie piano and his vocal style. He brought down the house with "Tutti Frutti." He just cranked out the tunes, and only occasionally broke into a smile. This legend of blues piano seemed perfectly used to the adulation of enthusiastic crowds. And his vocals are exuberant, a real joy to hear.

This 45 rpm LP was recorded in the afternoon, before the live festival concert. Its sound is live, direct, stripped-down, and a bit raw. As loyal readers know, Stan Ricker was on hand in Salina to make direct-to-disc recordings of these performances. The Henry Gray recordings had some flaws, due to problems with the amplifiers in the direct-to-disc recording chain (through no fault whatsoever of Stan's). So this LP was created from the backup half-inch 30ips analogue tape, mastered onto LP at 45 rpm, and pressed on HQ-180 gram vinyl. Those of you who are familiar with 45rpm LPs know what an advantage they have over 33 1/3rpm LPs. When the cutting stylus has more space on the lacquer over which to inscribe a given amount of music, and your stylus similarly has more space over which to retrieve it, good things happen. 

Henry's repertoire would easily support a dozen records such as this. The six cuts on the 45rpm LP provide a good overview of his dazzling technique and crowd-pleasing style. It seems clear that Chad has set out to record a wide cross-section of blues styles, and he is succeeding admirably. I just wonder how much work Chad's piano required after Henry finished working out on it over the two days of the festival.

If you want to go back to the Chicago of the 50's, and feel like what it would have been like to sit beside one of the masters of boogie woogie as he rolled off tune after tune, buy this record, do whatever you must do to make your turntable spin at 45 rpm, crank it up, and enjoy.

 

 

Enjoyment: 85

Sound Quality: 80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
 

Quick Links


Premium Audio Review Magazine
High-End Audiophile Equipment Reviews

 

Equipment Review Archives
Turntables, Cartridges, Etc
Digital Source
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Preamplifiers
Amplifiers
Cables, Wires, Etc
Loudspeakers/ Monitors
Headphones, IEMs, Tweaks, Etc
Superior Audio Gear Reviews

 

 


Show Reports
HIGH END Munich 2024
AXPONA 2024 Show Report
Montreal Audiofest 2024 Report

Southwest Audio Fest 2024
Florida Intl. Audio Expo 2024
Capital Audiofest 2023 Report
Toronto Audiofest 2023 Report
UK Audio Show 2023 Report
Pacific Audio Fest 2023 Report
T.H.E. Show 2023 Report
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 Report
...More Show Reports

 

Videos
Our Featured Videos

 


Industry & Music News

High-Performance Audio & Music News

 

Partner Print Magazines
audioXpress
Australian Hi-Fi Magazine
hi-fi+ Magazine
Sound Practices
VALVE Magazine

 

For The Press & Industry
About Us
Press Releases
Official Site Graphics

 

 

 

     

Home   |   Hi-Fi Audio Reviews   |   News   |   Press Releases   |   About Us   |   Contact Us

 

All contents copyright©  1995 - 2024  Enjoy the Music.com®
May not be copied or reproduced without permission.  All rights reserved.