James Booker

[Deleted]

Thread started by casimira


I went to an openeing of a short film documentary yesterday about the late great New Orleans piano wizard James Carroll Booker who died in 1983. The film was made by a couple German guys and was OK. Booker, like most NOLA musicians particularly of his generation,gained more fame abroad than at home. I used to go and listen to him at a local joint in the 1970's and early (obviously)80's. Oh, the name of the film is: SugarB

[bixaorellana]

Those of you who saw the film yesterday must have been among the very first in the world to have viewed it. There is only one mention of it on the net -- from the Gambit (N.O. newspaper) listings.

For those of you not familiar with James Booker, or who need your memories refreshed, here he is. (chosen because sound quality is good)

Casimira -- note mention of the Leaf in the comments on the youtube page:

[Deleted]

Thanks Bix! Your Ruby Slippers were keeping time with the music. How you do that?
It was not a premiere,apparently it was shown at Loyola about a year ago maybe.

[bixaorellana]

Just fell across this lovely tribute to Booker and wanted to pass it on.

And talk about looking back -- I think this thread was the first one ever in the Screening Room.

www.huffingtonpost.com/sal-nunziato/james-booker-new-orleans_b_141712.html

[bixaorellana]

Hi ho ~~ look at this!!


from the blurb on the youtube page:
Bayou Maharajah is a feature-length video documentary on the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker. Through interviews with friends and contemporaries, the film traces Booker's life from child prodigy to his acclaimed work as session pianist, his solo career and infamous personal life to his early death and continuing legacy. Illustrated with archival concert footage, still photos and promotional material, the film paints a portrait of this overlooked genius. The soundtrack brings to life Booker's distinct style and includes his early R&B hits, his genre-defying medleys, and the 'spiders on the keys' complexity of his music.

Here is their facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Bayou-Maharajah/110533325650435

Casimira take note ~~ Lee is on that youtube video!

[Deleted]

Thanks for this Bixa. I did indeed get goose bumps while listening and watching. Lee had one of the classic Y'AT accents and had an unmistakable voice and manner about him,as did Booker.
I was told that this film premiered at the Leaf back on November 8th,the anniversary of Bookers death.I was out of town at the time.
It's a shame that more people on here haven't posted any comments about Bookers music. Ironic that this was the same throughout his life. It was only after he died that people started paying attention to his genius. Pity. Isn't it always the way?

[bixaorellana]

@ a week & a half ago, I posted some Booker in Favorites -- here at #350. I think if people clicked on that second video, they would be complete Booker fans forever.

I wonder if that was the full film that was premiered. The facebook page says:
The 3rd annual James Booker Birthday Celebration and Tribute this Friday, Dec 17th, 2010 at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans. Music starts at 7pm. Sneak peek of “Bayou Maharajah” film at 9:30pm. After party across the street at Frenchy’s Gallery, 10pm- until..

I don't think the film is finished yet. Do check out the FB page, which is full of great pictures, links, and bits of Booker myth.

[bixaorellana]

Mar 21, 2011 10:17:44 GMT casimira said:

It's a shame that more people on here haven't posted any comments about Bookers music.

Ain't it the truth. Piano as the piano was meant to be played.

The Bayou Maharajah facebook page just added some photos a few hours ago, and what photos they are!

Here's a teensy taste (hee hee hee) ~~



;D


The caption under this one says:
"Many thanks to Mac Rebbenack for taking the time this weekend to demonstrate what Booker taught him on organ. Videos to follow.."


Pictures found here: www.facebook.com/bayoumaharajah?sk=wall
Click on Photos in the left-hand panel. When the page opens, the most recent ones (where I got the ones above) will be in the thumbnail on the upper left.

[Deleted]

WOW Bixa!!!! Fabulous photos!!! Rickie Lee just around the corner from our house jamming with Booker!!! F**CK!!!

The pic of Mac is stunning. You have to try to get a hold of his autobiography,Under A Hoodoo Moon, and hear him recount umpteen Booker stories along with many,many other legendary musicians of the region and era.

My favorite memories of hearing him play were in the late 1970's, early 1980's,he played every Tuesday night at the Maple Leaf. I would get off at 11p.m. from my job on Jefferson Hwy., ride my bike along the levee to Oak Street with a co-worker,meet up with some friends , and suck down some ice cold Dixie beer,listening to Booker play on into the summer night.
Sadly,tragically so,there were only a handful of us there most of those nights.

Thank you for this, I will surely share it with T.

Gratefully,there is a current generation of musicians who are giving him his' just due'.

And,We just saw a brilliant portrait of Booker painted recently,in The Frenchy Gallery across from the Maple Leaf. I have to get a pic of it.
(My compact camera bit the dust recently and I don't always have my good larger camera with me.)

[bixaorellana]

I don't use a mobile phone, but it sure would be handy to have one for those unexpected photo opportunities!

The internet is a wondrous thing. I just found this:

Rickie Lee Jones said this:

“Booker died then, much like he had lived, no one seemed to notice him, or maybe it was just that it would have been unbearable for him to have been noticed too much. I am glad to hear that people celebrate James Booker now. He would be really happy about that, in a quiet way, I think.”
Source: defendneworleans.tumblr.com/post/58386345/james-booker-new-orleans-piano-wizard-25-years-gone
Be warned, there's a youtube video on that page showing Booker at the Leaf ............. and it no longer works. *sob*

Oh gosh, yes, I remember when he played weekly at the Leaf. F. and O. claimed he pissed in the piano at one of those sessions.

Here's another Leaf-related link that's missing. It's from Nola.com & starts:
New Orleans piano wizard James Booker subject of Maple Leaf tribute
By Keith I. Marszalek, NOLA.com / Keith Spera - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com
November 07, 2008, 5:15AM
For seven years, piano wizard James Booker spent most Tuesdays on the tiny stage at the Maple Leaf Bar. His performances, like his life, were erratic. Some nights, he was brilliant; other nights, he was frustrating. He gave his final performance there on Hallween 1983, days before he died.
If you click on "full story", you're told it's not to be found. That's particularly maddening because all the other stories in this montly archive are accessible: www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2008/11/index_3.html

[bixaorellana]

Another internet find -- a pretty complete bio. It contains nuggets such as this:

Over the next few years, James went on the road, playing with many of the popular bands of the day. ... Huey “Piano” Smith did not like to travel at all. ...because of James’ gift for sounding like other performers, he went on tour throughout the South making appearances as Huey Smith. It was a win-win situation for both of them, and sometimes he even performed local gigs when Smith accidentally double-booked himself.

www.americanbluesscene.com/2011/03/james-booker-the-clown-prince-of-new-orleans-piano/

[bixaorellana]

Many thanks to the Facebook Page, "Bayou Maharajah" for posting this ~~

James Booker: Making the Insipid Sublime <-- click

It's from NPR -- a brief text by Tom Moon and three crystal clear recordings. If you don't do anything else today, do listen to Booker doing the impossible with "A Taste of Honey".

[bixaorellana]

James Booker would have been 72 today. December 17, 1939 - November 8, 1983

Again, thanks to fb Page Bayou Maharajah for commorating it by posting this:


And I'll just post this one ~~

[bixaorellana]

This is exciting -- NPR is profiling the making of Bayou Maharajah. Listen to it or read it here:
Reviving James Booker, The 'Piano Prince Of New Orleans'

[Deleted]

I heard a segment of this this morning,I think it's the same one!! I came on here and went to post the link but couldn't find it in Change the Station anywhere. No wonder,it's in here where I originally posted it. The search said it was too busy and would report it back to Proboards,which it seems to always say when I go to search.

Anyway,it's a brilliant piece,thanks for this Bixa.

[bixaorellana]

Not foolproof, but better than the built-in search engine ................. use the Search button in the menu at the upper right of every page.

[bixaorellana]

From the FB Page, Bayou Maharajah, this announcement:

This just in! I'll be playing some extra super rare James Booker tunes tonight on the Kitchen Sink show with Michael Dominici on WWOZ, 90.7. Those of yall outta town can tune in at www.wwoz.org

That's from 10 pm CST tonight, Tuesday to midnight.

And ~~ a writeup on the ongoing film project:
blogs.artinfo.com/blunotes/2012/12/james-booker-the-untold-so-far-story/

[Deleted]

Very cool Bixa. Thanks for this.
There's a tribute soon at the Maple Leaf with some of the city's premier keyboard players being featured.

[bixaorellana]

Just posted on the Bayou Maharajah fb page ~~

the documentary is an official selection for the 2013 SXSW Film Festival.

[Deleted]

Bixa, I combed through that link and could not find the Booker flick.
What genre is it listed under?
I did see some other cool stuff.

[bixaorellana]

Casimira, I think that link was just to show what the SXSW film festival is all about.

Anyway, the documentary was very, very well received there.

Here are some reviews:

Billboard: www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1552185/new-doc-premiering-at-sxsw-explores-the-tumultuous-life-of

This is lovely: www.thepeoplesayproject.org/review-bayou-maharajah/

Austin American Statesman: www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/austinmovies/entries/2013/03/14/sxsw_capsule_bayou_maharajah_t.html/?cxntfid=blogs_austin_movie_blog

[Deleted]

Very cool!! I will be looking for premiere dates here in the local media!!!!
Thanks Bixa!!!

[bixaorellana]

I am going to have to find some way of seeing this movie on the big screen!

Here are some reviews and two trailers:

^{Here is a review & trailer from}

A different trailer on Vimeo: (Casimira, this clip features John Parsons.)

Nice overview of Booker ~ rubbercityreview.com/2013/03/in-search-of-james-booker-2/

[bixaorellana]

If you're only going to read one review on Bayou Maharajah, perhaps it should be this one ~
watusichris.tumblr.com/post/55672586969/james-booker-true-if-you-werent-looking-for

[bixaorellana]

Well, it will have been to Australia & back before getting to New Orleans, but Bayou Maharajah will finally be shown in Booker's home town on October 17. It will be the closing night film of the 2013 New Orleans Film Festival: www.neworleansfilmsociety.org/community/latest/

[Deleted]

Great news but dd you see the price?? F me!!!!!

[bixaorellana]

Yeah, I was shocked, but that big price covers all events & film showings during the entire week of the festival. You can buy a ticket to individual films instead, although you'll have to wait until Sept 30 (if you're a member of the Society) or Oct 7 (non-members).

[bixaorellana]

www.offbeat.com/2013/10/01/why-does-james-booker-matter/

[Deleted]

Aug 13, 2013 23:12:43 GMT bixaorellana said:

Yeah, I was shocked, but that big price covers all events & film showings during the entire week of the festival. You can buy a ticket to individual films instead, although you'll have to wait until Sept 30 (if you're a member of the Society) or Oct 7 (non-members).

We were able to procure tickets for this premiere and the after party from an old friend of T.'s who is president of the board of directors for the NOFS!!
Very amped about this.
I also found out that one of the editors of the film is another acquaintance of ours.
Small town we are!!!

[Deleted]

Tonight is the NOLA premiere of the long awaited aforementioned Booker film, closing out the NO Film Festival.
I could not be more excited....