Automatic Trouble

Henry Cooper

Reviewed by Tony Englehart

Emerging in 1998 as front man after backing Duffy Bishop for 5 years, Henry Cooper has established himself as a viable force in the Northwest Blues scene. With his signature slide guitar technique, Cooper again delivers with stylishness sophistication on his 3rd release Automatic Trouble.

Henry Cooper has been playing music for nearly 20 years. Starting out as a blues harmonica player, Cooper hooked up with the Coltrane Blues Band in 1976. However, it was at the height of the Urban Cowboy phenomenon, and Henry found himself wailing Mickey Rafael and Charlie McCoy harp licks in a Country band. He would return to the Blues playing slide on a Fender Jaguar and never look back. Now regarded as a slide guitar virtuoso, Henry Cooper combines the raw energy of Elmore James with the smooth style of T-bone Walker.

Recorded live at Seattle’s Experience Music Project while opening for Little Milton, Automatic Trouble showcases Cooper doing what he does best, perform. With clean riffs, effortless solos, and relaxed stage presence, this recording captures Henry Cooper in peak form. Veteran Hammond player Ed Vance is an essential ingredient, and Cooper relies on and features him often. The mid-tempo shuffle “Love The Life Your Livin” kicks off the disc and showcases Cooper’s fierce, yet tempered, slide playing where as the track “Baby Please” is more rough and ready. Henry is a versatile player, and the instrumental “King Me” highlights some old school Telecaster picking.

Automatic Trouble has Henry Cooper’s personal stamp on it as writer, composer, producer, and performer and proves once more that this guitar slinger cannot only capture the spotlight, but transfix in it.