James Booker - Home Video - Kaarst '78

James Booker playing for friends in Europe 1978. Filmed by the late German collector Dietrich Von Staden.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• James
• Booker
• Piano
• Blues
• New
• Orleans

[kirkwell]

drerosso, thanks very much for sharing this rare James Booker video with me. I appreciate it very much since he's my all-time favorite New Orleans style pianist. I read an interesting autobiography written by Mac Rebbenack (AKA Dr. John) where he wrote a little bit about Booker's life and how talented he was. Booker toured and played organ for Dr. John. From what was in the Dr. John book (I can't remember the name of the book but it's been out for quite a while, maybe over 10 years...)

[drerosso]

You're very welcome Kirkwell. I loved Dr. John's autobiography (Under a Hoodoo Moon by the way) what a life he's led. Some of it made me wince!

[steviedeedee]

There are so many great piano players but Booker was in a class by himself.

[professor501]

The Dr. John autobiography is "Under a Hoodoo Moon: The Life of the Night Tripper", and yes, it's a wonderful book! And the last song he's playing is Allen Toussaint's "Fortune Teller", which I think Benny Spellman recorded.

[IndependentGeorge76]

@jjs98 google youtube downloader, install it and then save the clip as an mp3.

[jjs98]

This video is my favorite Booker out there, and I love and have listened to a lot of it. Is there any way to get a hold of it besides here? If it went offline somehow, it would just about break my heart.

[MultiKZB]

Despite all of the Booker on Youtube, I keep coming back to this gem...the piano is simply an extension of the man. How I wish someone knew about cross-lighting!

[NarimatsuMusic]

one person has no soul.

[tamanite]

I can remember back many years ago ... had driven into town to drop off a tax return at the main post office on Loyola when I heard this guy come on the radio, WWOZ I think, with a wild version of Junco Partner. Sounded like he was crammed into a tiny radio studio with a piano and playing and doing some interview etc. It was so good that I wanted to pull off the road to listen better but it was after midnight & I needed to get home 17 miles away. Sad he died so soon after.

[tamanite]

@theblackkeys84 O Holy Night

[Misruler]

Just so immediate and wonderful.....

[1blastman]

@professor501 Booker could cover anyone's music and take total possession of it. He'd make it his own and deliver a better version than anyone could. This is the first time I've heard him cover "Fortune Teller" and it's brilliant. Spellman did record it - RIP Benny .... and Booker

[jjcale1969]

James, my poor hero. Why couldn't you happy all the time? 28 years after your death your music still makes me shiver and pulls me through tuff moments.

Please send a new load of lost tapes from above.

Love & Rest in Peace.