Its been written that if you ask anybody who is not from New Orleans who is the greatest pianist from the Big Easy, you will hear names like Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Dr. John and Harry Connick Jr. Ask anybody from New Orleans who is the best pianist and they’ll tell you 9 out of 10 times, James Booker. I remember seeing him at Jazz Fest a lot but I only got to the Maple Leaf Bar just once to see this genius. As you can see by the picture, it was an intimate setting holding no more than 200 people if that much. Admission was never more than .00 or .00 back then. Anyways……….. Booker starts this medley sort of slow but hold on when you get to about the 3 minute mark. No way anyone can “learn to play” like this. As with most geniuses, Booker had his demons and eventually, they caught up with him This amazing talent died on November 8, 1983, while seated in a wheelchair, waiting to be seen at the emergency room at New Orleans Charity Hospital. He was just 43 years old. The cause of death was renal failure. His death was mourned by music lovers, but was unsurprising to those who were aware of his life-long history of serious drug abuse and chronic alcoholism.
Just found a picture of my late husband and myself in New Orleans dated 1978. How I wish we could have heard this genius! Who knows, I may never have left…still working on getting down in August!
40 “likes” and not a single “dislike”…I think this is the first time I’ve seen a vid without a single “dislike”.
@arjhendrix Meta Institute. Wow, thanks. The only other time a heard a word like dat was from my wife but i think she said I needed to be institutionalized!
9th Heaven !!! entry>free, service>self
but its all here for the digging and shared.
9th Meta Institute!
Woo! Hoo! I know that it is Lent and Mardi Gras is over, but just got my computer back. I really needed his genius–within the past 20 days I have totalled my 2010 Corvette and my computer went “on the blink.” (Ok…a few other things happened, but Booker just brought me back to life.) This guy just makes me want to smile and dance…at least I will get all of my Booker CD’s out of the Vette…and yes, I was listening to him during the accident.
Woo! Hoo! I know that it is Lent and Mardi Gras is over, but just got my computer back. I really needed his genius–within the past 20 days I have totalled my 2010 Corvette and my computer went “on the blink.” (Ok…a few other things happened, but Booker just brought me back to life.) This guy just makes me want to smile and dance…at least I will get all of my Booker CD’s out of the Vette…and yes, I was listening to him during the accident.
@theantiantihero I don’t think anyone can. A piano teacher once told me you can play his “difficult techniques” out of the context of the music but to play the way Booker does all the way through a song is very frustrating for pianists.Unfortunately there were a wealth of videos showing him playing live but most if not all have been removed. He appeared to be at his happiest and playful like a child while making what he did look so easy and natural; which I suppose was for him!.
I just discovered James Booker and I’ve become obsessed. I didn’t know anyone could play music like this.
@1j34u756n It’s from the album “Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah: Live at the Maple Leaf Bar” and appears to be available everywhere including as a single (mp3)
I’ve been looking like crazy, is there anywhere to download/purchase an mp3 of this version?
Ok, I admit it…between spurts of finishing syllabi, Booker has been a constant . What a joy to hear him play…please post more. Now is this where I say, “Who Dat”?
“Free”? What a fantastic gift that would have been for the students….and I would have relished the reputation as the professor that brought James Booker, this unbelievable pianist from New Orleans, to campus!!
@MultiKZB Hey there, hope you had a merry Christmas and here’s hoping you have a happy New Year!!! If you watch some of his videos that are posted on YT, you’ll see how effortless his playing was for him and how happy he was when playing. Truly, he would have done this for free.
I was at Baylor from August 1965 to August 1966. New Orleans was on my agenda, but getting a Masters in one year does not allow for free time. Then off to the University of San Diego (private/Catholic) where in a few years I was the theatre arts department chair. James could have come down from LA and casually played on an upright or baby grand.. Start out with a medley of Tico Tico, Send Me Someone to Love and finish off with Chopin. The music department would have been floored.!
Ahhhhhh…there are no words to describe the joy of listening to this. How I wish that was my voice in the background.
@1j34u756n Ah yes, “God’s Away on Business”. The man is a genius! Damn, now I’m thinkin’ “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”. Crap, thanks to you I’ll be listening to Waits all day. Anyway, about James Booker. What you don’t hear is what many accomplished pianists hear. According to them, Booker does stuff with those ivories that are damn near impossible. When he played, the man looked so at peace and happy. Hands down, he was the best pianist to come out of N.O. (and we’ve given the world a lot).
I did a Tom Waits station on Pandora and heard some great stuff, from Ray Charles to Muddy Waters, this song came up and made my jaw drop. After listening to it twelve times in a row, I still can’t believe the virtuosity in piano, vocals, and lyrics are all from one guy I’ve never heard of. The tempo changes in the 5th minute still give me chills!
@smittyann36 You’re welcome. In his own way, he was an out and out genius and I don’t think he ever realized it or even care. He just wanted to be James Booker.
The best. Thanks for rounding up this Booker stuff
@hassledguy I can’t confirm nor deny what James’ daily habits were. The only thing i know about him is what I’ve read. You know the old saying…”Say it enough and it becomes true”. When I saw James play, he appeared completely in control and his behavior was nowhere near that of Ernie K-Doe’s. There are tapes available of K-Doe D.Jaying on WWOZ. It was like a train wreck. You had to look (listen). One thing that can’t be argued, James was pure genius on the ivories.
Love it! Jack Cruz the incredibly great bassist with Walter Wolfman Washington for the past 30+ years was Booker’s roommate in the Marigny and played with Booker in the 70s. His recollections of Booker differ a lot from the legend. He remembers him being pretty level headed and not fucked up out of his mind most of the time, at least during this period. Kidney disease is also not the typical cause of death for hard core drug/alcohol abusers in their early 40s. Just some Booker thoughts.
Fantastic… Just great …!!!
@9thWardJukebox That’s right, am beyond technique he paints pictures with his music that makes me believe I can smell the Bayou right now – and I am far away in NYC…… thanks for sharing your wonderful collection of clips!
@9thWardJukebox That’s right, am beyond technique he paints pictures with his music that makes me believe I can smell the Bayou right now – and I am far away in NYC…… thanks for sharing your wonderful collection of clips!
@9thWardJukebox That’s right, am beyond technique he paints pictures with his music that makes me believe I can smell the Bayou right now – and I am far away in NYC…… thanks for sharing your wonderful collection of clips!