If I remember correctly, Booker's grandmother or aunt raised him and they had money. They sent him to the Juiliard School of Music. He discovered drugs, dropped out of the school and ultimately his heroin addiction finally killed him. He sure could play!!
@rrevved nah booker didnt go to Juliard - he did study classical music in New Orleans, but was basically a child prodigy, with perfect pitch, a photographic memory and freakish spatial awareness. pretty much all the ingredients of a piano genius.
This is part of the second set of a two set, 1 hour and 55 minute video produced and directed by Jim Gabour for Cox Cable of New Orleans in 1983. It was part of a Music City series sponsored by Time Saver [loved by many Yats, but ain't dere no more]. I'd love to see this video cleaned up some and made available to the public. It's a classic. If the announcer is correct, it was recorded on October 30, 1983 at the Maple Leaf Bar. dogheadio is good on his reference, but that was
@1blastman shit, that video needs to be released! there's a lot of clips floating round, but never seen any dvd collection sout there. the amount of pianists who love booker, let alone just fans, out there, would mean whoever's got copyright would make some serious dough
@weavy420 Years ago, I had a copy of some rehearsals with Jerry Garcia Band. There is a really cool Tico Tico he does with JGB when he goes from piano to Hammond B3 organ. Its pretty damn cool. Its floating around out there somewhere. Maybe even somewhere in my cd collection. If I find it, I'll try to contact you weavy420.
@JYuratich I have a tape of a session that Booker did with Garcia that was played on WWOZ by the Duke of Tchopotoulis late one Friday night\Saturday morning -very pre-Katrina. It's in my house somewheres........
There apparently are concerts where Booker and Garcia played together in California.
Of all of the incredible piano players to come from New Orleans, this man was the greatest. And that is no small feat when you have Jellyroll Morton, Tuts Washington, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint et al.
His grandfather taught piano to Jellyroll Morton, and then James himself taught Harry Connick Jr.
Just think, the boy can do it like this, loaded to the gills with lethal liquor, you can almost wonder, could it have been done any better with the boy sober. A lonely broken heart played this piece. The liquor he drank was used to kill his overbearing heart pain within. Even a musical genius feels the pain and misery of this world, and it takes that as being part of the equation to cause the heart to cry through the music they play that just awe amazes those who give ear to their cry.
@dogheadio Are you 100% certain about the date he died? Do you know the date?....is my question. If you're sure, do you mind telling the source? I'm not tryin to give you the 3rd degree.I've loved his music for about 30 yrs.I haven't heard much about this performance,but hearsay.Thanx for uploading this!
Not at all certain, but it seems I am a year ahead ,James Carroll Booker the 3rd ,according to Wikipedia died November the 8th 1983, it also confirms that he died 10days after the clip I have broadcast(Seagrams)which is what the guy introducing it said. The clip came from a US Music Documentary 'New Orleans Now' best I can do
is there the rest?
HadesII7 2 weeks ago in playlist good jazz for improv
pure genius!
MariaLuvsNOLA 3 months ago
this guy was just incredible.
wherethefuckisjake 4 months ago
@MrBluetriggz I believe it's called Seagram's Jam.
burlmattress 4 months ago
My skeleton just jumped out of my body to make a sandwich. Twice. Booker's DNA better show up again soon or music is in trouble.
geminishro 5 months ago
this cat was swingin' even when he played rubato! but look out when the tempo started rockin'!
repooc44 6 months ago
Comment removed
IndependentGeorge76 7 months ago
If I remember correctly, Booker's grandmother or aunt raised him and they had money. They sent him to the Juiliard School of Music. He discovered drugs, dropped out of the school and ultimately his heroin addiction finally killed him. He sure could play!!
rrevved 7 months ago
@rrevved nah booker didnt go to Juliard - he did study classical music in New Orleans, but was basically a child prodigy, with perfect pitch, a photographic memory and freakish spatial awareness. pretty much all the ingredients of a piano genius.
IndependentGeorge76 7 months ago
Too bad the drinking and drugs took him early. I would like to have seen him perform.
nastyblkman1 9 months ago
This is part of the second set of a two set, 1 hour and 55 minute video produced and directed by Jim Gabour for Cox Cable of New Orleans in 1983. It was part of a Music City series sponsored by Time Saver [loved by many Yats, but ain't dere no more]. I'd love to see this video cleaned up some and made available to the public. It's a classic. If the announcer is correct, it was recorded on October 30, 1983 at the Maple Leaf Bar. dogheadio is good on his reference, but that was
a later video
1blastman 9 months ago
@1blastman shit, that video needs to be released! there's a lot of clips floating round, but never seen any dvd collection sout there. the amount of pianists who love booker, let alone just fans, out there, would mean whoever's got copyright would make some serious dough
IndependentGeorge76 7 months ago
A true legend... is it improvisation or does this piece have a name?
MrBluetriggz 9 months ago
Comment removed
JYuratich 10 months ago
he played with Jerry Garcia and I would LOVE to hear that gig.
weavy420 11 months ago
@weavy420 Years ago, I had a copy of some rehearsals with Jerry Garcia Band. There is a really cool Tico Tico he does with JGB when he goes from piano to Hammond B3 organ. Its pretty damn cool. Its floating around out there somewhere. Maybe even somewhere in my cd collection. If I find it, I'll try to contact you weavy420.
JYuratich 10 months ago
@JYuratich I have a tape of a session that Booker did with Garcia that was played on WWOZ by the Duke of Tchopotoulis late one Friday night\Saturday morning -very pre-Katrina. It's in my house somewheres........
There apparently are concerts where Booker and Garcia played together in California.
1blastman 8 months ago
Comment removed
JazzBlaster69 3 weeks ago
@JazzBlaster69 Your musical life as you know it is about to change forever :o)
And that's a good thing.
1blastman 3 weeks ago
Brilliant, as always. Among the last pieces I believe are "Closer Walk With Thee" and "Precious Lord." RIP
MultiKZB 1 year ago
Of all of the incredible piano players to come from New Orleans, this man was the greatest. And that is no small feat when you have Jellyroll Morton, Tuts Washington, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint et al.
His grandfather taught piano to Jellyroll Morton, and then James himself taught Harry Connick Jr.
wilburevans 1 year ago
@wilburevans there's an old Jazzfest video where Booker is playing with a very young Connick [maybe 12]. I'm trying to lay my hands on it.
1blastman 3 weeks ago
What a great post. It's great to see how he moved around the keys and how loose he was with his audience.
ktotheb1974 1 year ago
Grande entre los grandes... fue capaz de fusionar a Chopin con Rachmaninov en alguno de sus temas...
Great song and better musician... Five stars...
Salvapego 1 year ago
I love James Booker so much.
boxjob 1 year ago
So I guess both eyes were good after all....
So many inflences in one man. So important to NOLA. So important to keep it going. Thanks, Dogheadio!
9280cjewett 1 year ago
What a character and a brilliant musician!
kasponya 1 year ago
genius...
luckyluca99 1 year ago
God Bless us all. If this weren't on tape I wouldn't believe it. The Maharajah hath playeth!!!
CCSGods25 1 year ago
Just think, the boy can do it like this, loaded to the gills with lethal liquor, you can almost wonder, could it have been done any better with the boy sober. A lonely broken heart played this piece. The liquor he drank was used to kill his overbearing heart pain within. Even a musical genius feels the pain and misery of this world, and it takes that as being part of the equation to cause the heart to cry through the music they play that just awe amazes those who give ear to their cry.
moseseseseses 2 years ago
@moseseseseses Booker died about 10 days after this was recorded.
1blastman 3 weeks ago
thank you so much for posting this
clearlakenoise 2 years ago
The man was a genius!
grtflmark 2 years ago 3
Sure was
dogheadio 2 years ago
@dogheadio Are you 100% certain about the date he died? Do you know the date?....is my question. If you're sure, do you mind telling the source? I'm not tryin to give you the 3rd degree.I've loved his music for about 30 yrs.I haven't heard much about this performance,but hearsay.Thanx for uploading this!
bigredlover77 2 years ago
Not at all certain, but it seems I am a year ahead ,James Carroll Booker the 3rd ,according to Wikipedia died November the 8th 1983, it also confirms that he died 10days after the clip I have broadcast(Seagrams)which is what the guy introducing it said. The clip came from a US Music Documentary 'New Orleans Now' best I can do
dogheadio 2 years ago
PRICELESS!!!
Prada215jsh 2 years ago
I'm glad someone put this back up.
cynthianaslim 2 years ago