Review: Blue Note LA, A Meeting of Masters – Marcus King, Cory Henry
Catching Marcus King, Cory Henry, Chris Dave, and DJ Ginyard at Blue Note Los Angeles felt like witnessing a summit of musical superheroes. For five nights, from November 11–15, these four masters turned the stage into their personal playground. The session I experienced overflowed with groove, grit, and genius. Each artist brought heavy credentials as well as a distinct flavor to this once-in-a-lifetime lineup.
Marcus King Cory Henry at Blue Note LA
Guitar Prodigy Marcus King
The revered Grammy-nominated blues-rock guitarist Marcus King continues to expand his sonic universe with the release of Darling Blue. This is his first full-band album since 2018. The record draws from Southern rock and blues roots while blending hints of country, folk, and soul. It’s as if the South took a road trip with Motown and never looked back.
Piano Virtuoso Cory Henry
The Grammy-winning keyboardist and creative force, Cory Henry infused the night with radiant gospel energy. He’s the kind of artist who can make a single synth note sound like a sermon. Fans can catch him monthly at his “Church Experience” residency at the Miracle Theater in Inglewood. The next service (sorry, show) lands this Sunday, November 16. See Review link below.
Aptly called “The Most Dangerous Drummer Alive,” Drummer Chris Dave kept the band on DJ Ginyard, a first-call bassist for everyone from soul icons to jazz legends, was the glue holding edge, in the best way. His rhythms hit like puzzle pieces solving themselves mid-air, thus merging all that talent together. Fun fact: he learned to play bass upside down as a kid. Left-handers everywhere just shed a proud tear.
Amazing Night of Music
The set began with an improvisational jam between King and Henry that felt equal parts telepathy and test drive. Then, with just a glance and a nod from Dave, the group slid seamlessly into Al Green’s timeless “Tired of Being Alone.” This quickly set the tone for the set…soulful, tender, and deeply human. King’s raspy wail and biting guitar licks called to mind BB King crossed with Rod Stewart…after a whiskey or two.
King’s weapon of choice, his 1962 Gibson ES-345 “Big Red,” looked as loved as it sounded. Passed down through three generations, the guitar shimmered with every note—half instrument, half family member.
An unexpected subplot emerged as well: headwear. Three of the four musicians wore hats likeit was an unspoken competition. King went classic cowboy, Dave sported a Pharrell-style ranger hat, and Ginyard kept it simple with a baseball cap. Henry opted out altogether, the lone hatless rebel, a bold choice in a band full of brimmed brilliance.
Funk Grooves at Blue Note LA
Hat jokes aside, the music was deadly serious. The band shifted into “Bipolar Love” from King’s Mood Swings album. The song is a raw reflection on mental health as well as emotional turbulence. King and Henry traded fiery solos, while Dave and Ginyard locked down bass and drums like human metronomes with swagger.
Next came a lengthy jam that morphed into a funky, Steely Dan-esque chill zone. Henry went off on a keyboard tangent, like outer space met gospel Sunday. King laughed mid-song. His setlist had vanished. “Someone must have swiped it!” he joked. Then he pivoted effortlessly into a heartfelt take on “Save Me.” It was a moment of vulnerability wrapped in melody, like therapy with better lighting.
A Blue Note LA Incredible Finale
After all that emotion, it was time to melt faces. King stomped on the distortion pedal, and then the band launched into a wild, Hendrix-flavored rendition of Funkadelic’s “Red Hot Mama.” Henry tore up the Korg Kronos like a man defusing a bomb with a groove. Dave’s drum solo hit warp speed, and for a second, the entire room seemed to levitate. The jam stretched beyond ten minutes, even dropping a playful nod to Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”
Finally, the lights dimmed as King introduced the band and ushered in one last song: The Temptations’ 1972 classic “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” The performance was equal parts blues, jazz, funk, and rock. It was a melting pot of soul that left every head bobbing.
Ninety minutes never flew by so fast. Hats, heart, humor, and heat—this was one for the books. Thank you, Marcus, Cory, Chris, and DJ, for reminding us that true masters don’t just play music—they live it. Find out more about these exceptional musicians on their websites; For a full list of upcoming performances at the Blue Note LA, visit the website – https://www.bluenotejazz.com/la/ https://www.marcuskingofficial.com https://coryhenry.com
