James Booker Medly: Tico Tico & Papa Was a Rascal

[rahsaanism]

Thank you for these amazing music. Tico Tico, Big Nick, Gonzo, Lah Tee Tah... Can't stop listening to James Booker !

[thevuutrain]

i can't stop listening to this

[9thWardJukebox]

@thevuutrain I'm not sure if Booker was alive today he could repeat this.  This is clearly "art"!!!

[1j34u756n]

the main reason this song moves me is that it is a blues piano rendition of the flamenco farrucas. I don't claim to be an expert, but here's my farruca medley taken from my own, and Juan Serrano's falsettas

[1j34u756n]

@DrVonNostrand, there's enough people jellying up the world, I'm just happy I'm not the only soul gettin' down to a beautiful brother with a starry eyepatch and talent enough to move and remove, again and again.

[MrBluetriggz]

No comment.. I mean, ive already made a comment about no comment, but seriously.. This is amazing!!!!

[MrClydeMarion]

There are two Rounder Records issues from 1993 : James Booker Live at the Maple Leaf Bar : Spiders on the Keys and Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah. Scott

Billington (the producer with John Parsons) said he had even more stuff recorded when I saw him in Paris about four years ago.

[9thWardJukebox]

@MrClydeMarion Booker played a lot of the same stuff over and over at his regular gigs at the Maple Leaf so I don't know exactly what we're missing. It would be wonderful to have any new stuff pop up, even some different arrangements of the music we're familiar with. My gut tells me we may be in for a surprise before the year is over.  Just trust me on that.

[MrClydeMarion]

Scott Billington told me in Paris a few years ago that he recorded more of Booker at the Maple Leaf. I wonder where it is.

[9thWardJukebox]

@MrClydeMarion I have heard a lot on Youtube but as for a collection, I don't know.

[MultiKZB]

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!

[GreenPartyWatch]

40 "likes" and not a single "dislike"...I think this is the first time I've seen a vid without a single "dislike".



[arjhendrix]

9th Heaven !!! entry>free, service>self

but its all here for the digging and shared.

9th Meta Institute!

[9thWardJukebox]

@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!

[MultiKZB]

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 just discovered James Booker and I've become obsessed. I didn't know anyone could play music like this.

[9thWardJukebox]

@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!.

[1j34u756n]

I've been looking like crazy, is there anywhere to download/purchase an mp3 of this version?

[9thWardJukebox]

@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)

[DrVonNostrand]

@1j34u756n I own four full length Booker albums. u jelly?

[9thWardJukebox]

@DrVonNostrand No.....just stale bread.

[MultiKZB]

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"?

[MultiKZB]

"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]

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.!

[9thWardJukebox]

@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.

[MultiKZB]

Ahhhhhh...there are no words to describe the joy of listening to this. How I wish that was my voice in the background.

[1j34u756n]

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!

[9thWardJukebox]

@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).

[smittyann36]

The best. Thanks for rounding up this Booker stuff

[9thWardJukebox]

@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.

[hassledguy]

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.

[9thWardJukebox]

@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.

[MrsUjify]

Fantastic... Just great ...!!!

[kasponya]

I am speechless

[9thWardJukebox]

@kasponya He did it so effortlessly....almost like taunting the piano.

[kasponya]

@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 your wonderful collection of clips!

[kasponya]

@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!

[GWENNIPOO]

Gerald "professor shorthair" Tillman, rip, is one of New Orleans all time great pianists.

[jlltherealking]

This is so marvellous, I'm crying...

[9thWardJukebox]

@jlltherealking Don't want you to cry....just enjoy. That's how James would want it.

[jlltherealking]

@9thWardJukebox : Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this tremendously!!!

[megathumos]

thanks for sharing this music...

I love everything james booker. I tried to learn this song, and, as you point, things went off the rails for me at minute 3.

[9thWardJukebox]

Not dat made me laugh....and probably put a smile on James' face up there. Merry Christmas!

[dncstevens]

I used to play piano in a blues band down N.O. way: crawfish fests, shrimp fests, etc. N.O. has a lot of great pianists, but nobody played like Booker. That man was positively sick. I've been trying to emulate this guy for years and everytime I think I'm getting close I hear something like this and get completely humbled. Rest in peace James. I wish you were here still, but God needed a good piano player, I guess.

[9thWardJukebox]

Good Lord, I need you to write my song descriptions. If I could rate your comments; 5 Stars+ (and Booker's music backs up what you have stated.

If you have a gift just to come close to Booker, you are blessed. Do not be humbled. My guess is you have make Booker smile every time you approach a piano. Ha

[9thWardJukebox]

This is what I was trying to add ..."Have a safe and happy holiday" but my typing is as bad as Booker's ivory touch was great....and dat is bad!

[dncstevens]

Thank you 9thWard; you are very kind. Booker, Fess, Tuts and Toissant are all my heros. If I wax eloquent, it's because they inspire.

[pianiplunker]

Man, that must have been a reck of a piano. In Booker's hands it sounds like a Steinway grand.

[9thWardJukebox]

I saw him play upright and baby grand, not sure of the brand but thanks for commenting. This reminds me that I have to post more of his stuff. Happy holidays!

[pianiplunker]

Yes, YT needs more Booker. I heard Alan Toussaint on NPRs Piano Jazz a few weeks ago (hosted by Elvis Costello) and Toussaint said Booker was easily the greatest NO pianists.