Often praised as one of the finest Hammond B-3 organ players of his generation (after all he began playing when he was two), Cory Henry and his fabulous band will be in Australia next week when he kicks off his world tour, playing Melbourne on Wednesday 13 April, Sydney on Thursday 14 April, then Easter Saturday Sunday and Monday at Bluesfest in Byron Bay. We actually tried to sneak in an interview with Corey today before his Australian gigs. Corey was free to chat with us, we were there awaitin’ but sadly, the technology gods had other ideas.
Cory Henry is among modern music’s most inventive minds. While mastering multiple instruments at a young age, he dominated the stage as a former member of Snarky Puppy. He has worked with Lauryn Hill, Frank Ocean, J. Cole, Vulfpeck, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Randolph, The Roots, Marcus Miller, Michael McDonald, Ty Dolla $ign and many more, but it’s as head of his own band that his stardom has soared, performing in cities and festivals around the world including Okeechobee, Electric Forest, North Sea Jazz and Love Supreme Festival.
Earlier in the week Corey was in Las Vegas for the Grammy Awards, where he was involved in four nominations. His October 2020 solo album Something to Say was nominated in the Best Progressive R&B Album category. The first body of work solely produced by Henry, Something to Say showcases his multi-instrumental skills and powerfully mines 2020’s challenging emotional terrain. Henry was also nominated as a co-producer/writer on Eric Bellinger’s New Light—again in the Best Progressive R&B Album category—and as a co-producer/writer on Kanye West’s DONDA, which was nominated for both Album of the Year and Best Rap Album. “It was incredible,” Corey recently told CBS Los Angeles’ “It was a few days of creating new music and watching Kanye in his element.”
Corey didn’t win anything this year however he has previously scored three Grammy wins as a member of the adventurous ensemble Snarky Puppy, including Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for their critically acclaimed album Culcha Vulcha.
No doubt Corey will include tracks off his current album ‘Best Of Me’ on the Australian tour, an album which was inspired by his musical heroes such as Stevie Wonder,Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, and Edgar Winter. Speaking of which, his new single The Fool has a heavy Prince vibe to it.
CORY HENRY AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Wednesday 13th April 2022
170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 14th April 2022
Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
https://www.bluesfesttouring.com.au/cory-henry
Saturday 16th , Sunday 17th & Monday 18th April 2022
BLUESFEST, BYRON BAY
https://www.bluesfest.com.au/