Beryl booker 19221978 james booker 19391983 thomas borino. Henry butler, quintessential new orleans pianist, is dead at. He was a oneeyed, drugaddicted piano genius who wore a wig stuffed with marijuana and once held a gun to his head on stage now a new film tells james booker s extraordinary story. It takes account of his troubled psyche and covers plenty of the wildman anecdotes, but pays close attention to the musicianship. Coproducer scott billington details that tale in the liner notes accompanying this reissue. Did you know james booker was harry connick jrs piano. Reviving james booker, the piano prince of new orleans. James carroll booker iii december 17, 1939 november 8, 1983 was a new orleans rhythm and blues pianist, organ player and singer, born in new orleans, louisiana, united states. James booker live at montreux jazz festival 1978 full concert. For any given piece, this basically involved two steps.
James bookers voice and piano will shake your soul and make you love humanity. John described booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever. Known as the piano prince of new orleans, the eyepatchwearing, flamboyantly dressed entertainer who walked with a limp from a childhood injury was. James carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel, boogiewoogie, blues, traditional and modern jazz, and classical music into a unique and breathtaking sound.
Why so much of what pianistvocalist james booker recorded in the 1970s didnt surface until the 90s is a mystery, but thats secondary compared to the greatness routinely presented on this cd. Henry butler, quintessential new orleans pianist, is dead. If these trends continue, maybe one day booker s music will be ranked where it deserves to be. Photographer j ames carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel, boogiewoogie, blues, traditional and modern jazz, and classical music into a unique and breathtaking sound. James bookers unrelenting piano style made him an important figure in new orleans music, acting as a major influence on harry connick jr. The life and times of the new orleans jazz blues pianist and singer james booker are conjured up in this richly enjoyable documentary tribute. James booker s unrelenting piano style made him an important figure in new orleans music, acting as a major influence on harry connick jr.
James booker s stature in new orleans musical history can be gauged by the nicknames bestowed on the gifted, troubled, openly gay musician. Henry butler, right, performing during the 2011 new orleans jazz and heritage festival. See more ideas about new orleans, new orleans music and professor longhair. He was acclaimed as a member of a new orleans piano pantheon that. A new orleans jazz pianist and some hiphop to bring you into.
James booker had the ability to be a virtuoso concert pianist or a jazz master, but he never strayed too far from the blues, the great mean of new orleans. Aug 26, 2016 bayou maharajah extra feature pianist dr. Aug 03, 2009 this is piano great james bookers version of st. It takes account of his troubled psyche and covers. David torkanowsky, a jazz pianist and bandleader, says bookers habits. Booker was a selftaught virtuoso who studied grieg, chopin and. Bayou maharajah the life and music of new orleans piano. Bookers training included classical instruction until age 12, by which time he had already begun to gain recognition as a blues and gospel organist on radio station wmry every sunday. See more ideas about new orleans, new orleans music and music. James bookers stature in new orleans musical history can be gauged by the nicknames bestowed on the gifted, troubled, openly gay musician. James carroll booker iii was a distinctive new orleans pianist who mixed gospel, boogiewoogie, blues, traditional and modern jazz, and classical music into a.
Jazz piano transcriptions archive include about 950 piano. Overview v biography v discography v songs v credits v related v. One of the great blues albums of the early 80s, classified captures the legendary new orleans pianist james booker not long before his premature death at the age of 43 on november 8, 1983. New orleans piano genius james booker died 30 years ago at 43 but. He greatly impressed arthur rubinstein with his musicality after performing for rubinstein in 1958 following one of the pianists concerts. New orleans lore has it that district attorney harry. Afterwards, eighteenyearold booker was introduced to the concert pianist and. He plaid classical, blues, gospel, jazz and other genres, but the connections he made on the keyboard remain original, idiosyncratic. James booker musician music database radio swiss jazz.
James carroll booker iii december 17, 1939 november 8, 1983 was a new orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist born in new orleans, louisiana, united states. James booker was at the very pinnacle of the genre known to some as new orleans piano. The life and times of the new orleans jazzblues pianist and singer james booker are conjured up in this richly enjoyable documentary tribute. His relentless, driving style, ability to switch from a hardhitting tune to a. The mystery of james booker documentary by savannah filmmaker explores troubled, flamboyant jazz genius by jim morekis, december 11, 20 gay. James carroll booker iii was born in new orleans on december 17, 1939, son of a minister, who played piano.
With his blend of jazz, blues, soul, gospel, and boogie woogie, pianist james booker epitomized new orleans music. Apart from one excellent article by pianist tom mcdermott, it appeared i would be left to my own devices. Jul 07, 2016 t he life and times of the new orleans jazz blues pianist and singer james booker are conjured up in this richly enjoyable documentary tribute. This is an alphabetized list of notable musicians who play or played jazz piano. Booker s unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. James booker best video ever live blues piano genius. Mar 16, 2011 james booker at new orleans jazz festival, 1978. He wowed music professors at southern university, new. James booker biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. He greatly impressed arthur rubinstein with his musicality after performing for rubinstein in 1958 following one of the pianist s concerts. John described booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced.
James booker true live at montreux jazz festival 1978. He was a oneeyed, drugaddicted piano genius who wore a wig stuffed with marijuana and once held a gun to his head on stage now a new film tells james bookers extraordinary story. Booker was a balanced and versatile pianist and organist his repetitive right hand sparkles complemented his. Why so much of what pianist vocalist james booker recorded in the 1970s didnt surface until the 90s is a mystery, but thats secondary compared to the greatness routinely presented on this cd. The tragic genius of james booker lily keber 20 ask jazz fans outside of new orleans if they have heard of james booker and most will lean back, rub their chin and say they know they have heard the name. Piano player james booker is considered a new orleans legend.
Booker was one of the great new orleans pianists, who was able to play classical music as well as new orleans piano. Melding blues, jazz and classical, it pays scant regard to the traditional rules of song or composition. Behind the keys james booker, the clown prince of new. So, as my own pianistic mission, i began the daunting process of learning james bookers music on my own. Before listening to classified, the album that many consider new orleans pianist james bookers finest, its helpful to know the backstory. These transcriptions are tough to play, mainly because booker had a number of unique left hand patterns that he used that are very difficult to play. Versatile american pianist, born 17 december 1939 in new orleans, louisiana, usa, died 8 november 1983 in the same city. I discovered the music of the new orleans pianist james booker when i was 17, through the resurrection of the bayou maharajah, a compilation of live recordings made during his time as the house. The video is nothing, but the music sure is something. Bookers unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards.
Image courtesy of the historic new orleans collection. Making the insipid sublime the eyepatchwearing pianist was among the most erratic characters in the crescent city, and as a result. James infirmary off his resurrection of the bayou maharajah. Despite his talent and life story, few people outside new orleans know about the pianist james booker, but within serious jazz circles hes legend. He was acclaimed as a member of a new orleans piano pantheon that includes jelly roll morton, james booker. T he life and times of the new orleans jazzblues pianist and singer james booker are conjured up in this richly enjoyable documentary tribute. Booker, james king of the new orleans keyboard amazon. And for local happening, watch for the james booker tribute portion of this years piano night at tipitinas. Reviving james booker, the piano prince of new orleans an upcoming documentary highlights the life of the man many called new orleans best pianist in a hundred years. A new orleans jazz pianist and some hiphop to bring you.
James booker live new orleans blues piano legend youtube. Although james booker only has a selected number of albums recorded in his life, he was an active performer in the new orleans music scene. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. John described james booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced. A wild genius with a style that combined elements of rhythmandblues, jazz.
Pages in category african american jazz pianists the following 68 pages are in this category, out of 68 total. Known as the piano prince of new orleans, the eyepatchwearing, flamboyantly. James booker was a new orleans rhythm and blues musician born in new orleans, louisiana, united states. Jul 04, 2018 henry butler, right, performing during the 2011 new orleans jazz and heritage festival. Booker s training included classical instruction until age 12, by which time he had already begun to gain recognition as a blues and gospel organist on radio station wmry every sunday. In a region glutted with flamboyant musicians, james bookers reputation as both a genius and a flake reached legendary proportions. This is a marvellous volume of piano transcriptions by the late james booker. James booker was one of the most influential musicians during the 1960s and has developed his style of combining blues with gospel, jazz, and classic which influenced succeeding musicians. Booker was a balanced and versatile pianist and organist his repetitive right hand sparkles complemented his aweinspiring left hands foundation. James booker was one of the most influential musicians during the 1960s and has developed his style of combining blues with gospel, jazz, and classic which influenced succeeding musicians musical career. Piano transcriptions archive including more than 950 transcriptions in pdf of popular jazz pianist.
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