God bless the Europeans for, as usual, documenting an American genius who was virtually ignored at home. How many live albums are there of Booker playing in Europe in 77-78? I can think of 4-5 off the top of my head, plus that amazing Montreaux Jazz Festival video. On the other hand, the cassette recordings from New Orleans that made up the "Spiders on the Keys" and "Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah" CDs are also miraculous, so America gets a little pat on the back for at least capturing some good live Booker. But the Europeans brought in the cameras, the high quality recording equipment, and treated the performances with the respect they deserved. As for the question "why doesn't everyone know this man's name"...well, you can flip that around and marvel at how people continue to find Booker year after year, decade after decade. Once upon a time, it seemed like every one in the English-speaking world knew Leo Sayer's name, for example, orr Debbie Boone's name (to name just two of Booker's 1970s contemporaries). Booker will still be finding fans in 500 years. Many people who sold 50,000x more records than Booker will not.
Anyway, la Grande parade du Jazz, was organized like The Newport jazz festival, by Georges Wein, himself. so we can met people such BB King, in the alley and have a real conversation, befriend with Muddy Waters musicians, talk to The Man himself, and Sir, from howmany time have been pling with Count Basie? musicians were very relaxed, invited by people at home, talking about their life on the road and at home. French have not a very pertinent choice in music, but musicians were really heartfully welcomed , in the way " ok, we have not such a music, but taste my recipe. I would avoid to say that people than me , numerous, have nothing to do with that f###g so called question of skin colour. Oh shtt no. and I know it make a difference.
As a pianist who loves the work of Dr John and Professor Longhair, I'm sad that I didn't discover James Booker until just now. Feel there's a huge gap in my musical education. Here I am watching the truth - a man with total mastery of his piano and voice, not trying to be anybody but himself. Absolute mesmerising. He had a short life but left a spell-binding legacy.
You discovered someone that will continue to influence you fro the rest of your life.He has influenced my playing in every way, and I discovered him decades ago.
@@TheLemon333 that's actually a really good point. It's also really good way of looking at it since he's depressed I didn't get to hear him before he actually did, like you said... As interpreted by them. ✅
Master and genius of astonishing New Orleans blues - a beautiful inspiration and pure happiness for all blues piano players! Thank you James for giving such gift to the world 😊
I have never seen Booker look so healthy or happy. His skin tone was excellent during his time in France 🇫🇷. His mother’s family were Creole from Bay St Louis. Genius ran in his mother’s family. Photographic memory, high IQ, hearts of gold and musical abilities. Kind, loving family on his mother’s side. So happy he had this time in France.
He bares his soul. Brings tears to my eyes. His authenticity and vulnerability are mesmerizing. Moving. Technically amazing, yet his emotional depth transcends technique.
1 • Let's Make A Better World 0:00 2 • Please Send Me Someone To Love 3:33 3 • Classified 9:21 4 • Let Them Talk 12:52 5 • Put Out The Light 17:23 ★ 6 • Malaguena A La Louisiana 20:34 7 • The Man I Love / I'm True 24:05
22:50 is classical also done by John Baldwin aka JPJ of Led Zeppelin,the No quarter and group solo esp 75,77 tours.The Man I Love/I True, tempo di limbo, mambo? Old Chris a retired fiddler of Albuquerque NM tune D A E B.
Better late than never! If you ever get to New Orleans check out the Louisiana Music Factory on Frenchmen Street. They would have a full collection of Booker music plus a DVD of a movie about Booker that's on Netflix.
A fantastic talent that can never be duplicated or replaced. This video is a true gem as there are so few of them in existence. He was a huge and unique talent. We miss you James. RIP
still discovering james booker, and every new gem i find is better than the last...this being no exception. Virtuoso! The way he tickles the ivories, Chopin, Librace and Jerry Lee Louis all are green with envy, indeed! I dont care about his demons! Dont we all have em? With a talent such as his, all students of piano need to listen to his style as a standard.
Will do, but as you know there's a big difference between playing a song that Booker plays and actually capturing the essence of Booker. I will check out Sestak's cover of that. Thanks for the "Tip"!
Thanks! I found two versions by him. I like the one you just posted a little better than the other concert video, but both are stellar. But it didn't move me to tears like Booker's version does. But that's just me.
1blastman oh i agree 100%. i just think Luca is amazing. but yeah Booker is 1 of a kind. Love Booker. his book is so advanced. takes me a super long time to learn even a page. he's so far beyond.
@@neverendinglove2527You are right to ask for validation. So many so-called legitimate quotes that we see on the internet are convenient but have no proven source.
Thank you so much for posting this video! Booker's was a once in a lifetime talent. There are piano players,and then there is James Booker. He and Professor Longhair were probably the two most gifted I have ever heard.
Barry Knight Record companies were afraid to deal with him. Too risky. He was very eccentric and had his demons to deal with. A true genius. A Confederacy of dunces rose against him.
The same question could be asked about many New Orleans musicians. In some cases their record companies made a lot of money off them. Some, admittedly, preferred to stay home and live the good life rather than pursue stardom. Perhaps the music is better for it.
solof I saw James in the mid seventies at the maple leaf. I was 17 and just back from navy boot camp. It's seems like it was on a Sunday or maybe during the week but the place was just about empty. I stayed thru all his sets which ended around 2 or 3 in the morning. I could not belive the place wasn't packed 'cause he was so good. When the show was over I followed him outside and told him he was fantastic. He looked at me up and down through his eye patch and just scoffed and walked into the night down Oak st. My feeling's were a bit hurt, but I realize now with age how frustrated this man must have felt at this point in his life.
@@Bullwinkel Hallo Bullwinkel Vor ca.3 Jahren hat mich Booker in seinen Bann gezogen. Irgend wann habe ich seine Biographie gelesen und ich musste sehr weinen. Ganz arme Leute machen die beste Musik lg martin Hat mich gefreut
Ich habe Booker das erste Mal gehört um 1977, als er in Europa die hierzulande bekannten Platten aufnahm, auch in HH spielte. Seitdem hat er mich in den Bann gezogen wie kein zweiter Blues-Pianist es je konnte. Damals lernte ich das Klavierspielen von Yancey-, Ammons-, Weber-, Zwingenberger-Platten, weil ich Booker einfach nicht 'begriff'; seine dermaßen komplexen Arrangements, den Polyrhythmus, die irrsten Tonarten. Erst Jahrzehnte später, dank der Noten-Transkriptionen und Amateuer-Videos wie diesem hier wagte ich mich an die Interpretation seiner besten Stücke heran, mit Stummelfingern.. hoffnungslos. Als endloser Ideen-Spender diente er mir seither, wann immer ich an den Tasten sitze. Man kann seine Stücke wie 'True' 100x hören und entdeckt immer wieder etwas mehr, noch eine raffinierte Bewegung, einen bisher entgangenen Akkord-Lauf. Oder 'Pixie', oder 'Classified' oder ..oder.. Der Mann war ein zutiefst unterbewertetes Phänomen seiner Zeit, dem erst nach seinem frühen Tod der Respekt entgegenbracht wurde, der ihm immer schon zustand. Die Film-Bio, die vielen Plattenveröffentlichungen und die nach und nach auftauchenden Videos haben ihm jetzt endlich zu Ruhm und Ehre verholfen. DIe Bandbreite seines Schaffens, die Vielfalt seiner, sogar klassischen, Stücke, seine grundehrliche Spielweise sind einzigartig. Gegenüber ihm waren die anderen Blues/Boogie/Ragtime/Stride Pianisten aus N.O., Chicago oder NYC 'one trick ponies'; er spielte sie alle gegen die Wand. "Spiders on the keys", hier kann man sehen, wie filigran seine Fingerarbeit war. Es sieht SOOO einfach aus.. Dieses Video war mir bis dato nicht bekannt. Die hier verkürzt gespielte Fassung von "I'm True" ist bei weitem nicht so faszinierend wie die herzzerreißende Lang-Version aus Montreux. Sie halbwegs authentisch interpretieren zu können wird mir ein lebenslanger, aber unerfüllbarer, Wunsch bleiben, so true.. R.I.P. James, "You made my day"; wait, no: "You made my LIFE!"
I wonder where I can get a decent copy of this performance 😩 it does exist as there’s a good clip in the documentary of this gig but can’t find it anywhere😡😡 #besteverbookerperformance 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
He taught Dr John how to play the organ with foot pedals !! when he was 12 years old pal Allan Toussaint said he was so far ahead nobody could match Booker
He taught Harry Connick Jr. how to play the piano who speaks so very highly of him. He said he was one of the sweetest men he had ever met. It is a known fact that some musicians refused to play with James because they could not keep up with him and felt inadequate. He was a sheer musical genius and many New Orleans musicians recognized it immediately. RIP James, thank you for being here with us, albeit too short a time. I will carry your incredible music in my heart always.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #1 НАЧАЛО ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ [Новый сезон] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/380Q7gLWGvk/mqdefault.jpg)
God bless the Europeans for, as usual, documenting an American genius who was virtually ignored at home. How many live albums are there of Booker playing in Europe in 77-78? I can think of 4-5 off the top of my head, plus that amazing Montreaux Jazz Festival video. On the other hand, the cassette recordings from New Orleans that made up the "Spiders on the Keys" and "Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah" CDs are also miraculous, so America gets a little pat on the back for at least capturing some good live Booker. But the Europeans brought in the cameras, the high quality recording equipment, and treated the performances with the respect they deserved. As for the question "why doesn't everyone know this man's name"...well, you can flip that around and marvel at how people continue to find Booker year after year, decade after decade. Once upon a time, it seemed like every one in the English-speaking world knew Leo Sayer's name, for example, orr Debbie Boone's name (to name just two of Booker's 1970s contemporaries). Booker will still be finding fans in 500 years. Many people who sold 50,000x more records than Booker will not.
Anyway, la Grande parade du Jazz, was organized like The Newport jazz festival, by Georges Wein, himself. so we can met people such BB King, in the alley and have a real conversation, befriend with Muddy Waters musicians, talk to The Man himself, and Sir, from howmany time have been pling with Count Basie? musicians were very relaxed, invited by people at home, talking about their life on the road and at home. French have not a very pertinent choice in music, but musicians were really heartfully welcomed , in the way " ok, we have not such a music, but taste my recipe. I would avoid to say that people than me , numerous, have nothing to do with that f###g so called question of skin colour. Oh shtt no. and I know it make a difference.
As a pianist who loves the work of Dr John and Professor Longhair, I'm sad that I didn't discover James Booker until just now. Feel there's a huge gap in my musical education. Here I am watching the truth - a man with total mastery of his piano and voice, not trying to be anybody but himself. Absolute mesmerising. He had a short life but left a spell-binding legacy.
You discovered someone that will continue to influence you fro the rest of your life.He has influenced my playing in every way, and I discovered him decades ago.
But you were listening to him really because those guys were heavily influenced with Booker's playing.
@@TheLemon333 that's actually a really good point. It's also really good way of looking at it since he's depressed I didn't get to hear him before he actually did, like you said... As interpreted by them. ✅
@@TheLemon333 Excellent point 👍 Without Dr John saying James Booker gave him some tuition, I wouldn't have known. Thanks for commenting 💪
Master and genius of astonishing New Orleans blues - a beautiful inspiration and pure happiness for all blues piano players! Thank you James for giving such gift to the world 😊
I have never seen Booker look so healthy or happy. His skin tone was excellent during his time in France 🇫🇷. His mother’s family were Creole from Bay St Louis. Genius ran in his mother’s family. Photographic memory, high IQ, hearts of gold and musical abilities. Kind, loving family on his mother’s side. So happy he had this time in France.
He bares his soul. Brings tears to my eyes. His authenticity and vulnerability are mesmerizing. Moving. Technically amazing, yet his emotional depth transcends technique.
James Booker had no bounderies....a pure genious....baring his soul with every bit of his soul and equally shared his joy with all of us
He literally makes me cry too.
Genius! End of story! We miss you James!
These songs are so unpretentious. What a gift the Earth got with a visit from this special person. Beautiful.
1 • Let's Make A Better World 0:00
2 • Please Send Me Someone To Love 3:33
3 • Classified 9:21
4 • Let Them Talk 12:52
5 • Put Out The Light 17:23 ★
6 • Malaguena A La Louisiana 20:34
7 • The Man I Love / I'm True 24:05
22:50 is classical also done by John Baldwin aka JPJ of Led Zeppelin,the No quarter and group solo esp 75,77 tours.The Man I Love/I True, tempo di limbo, mambo? Old Chris a retired fiddler of Albuquerque NM tune D A E B.
Bless you
He’s not worried about trying to impress anybody. Just expressing himself.
The close-ups on his hands are nothing short of a treasure. Amazing!
Sings as well as he plays the piano. I had never heard of him. I'm 66 yrs old, to my shame I'm sorry to tell this.
Snap! And I'm older than you.
Better late than never! If you ever get to New Orleans check out the Louisiana Music Factory on Frenchmen Street. They would have a full collection of Booker music plus a DVD of a movie about Booker that's on Netflix.
A fantastic talent that can never be duplicated or replaced. This video is a true gem as there are so few of them in existence. He was a huge and unique talent. We miss you James. RIP
still discovering james booker, and every new gem i find is better than the last...this being no exception. Virtuoso! The way he tickles the ivories, Chopin, Librace and Jerry Lee Louis all are green with envy, indeed! I dont care about his demons! Dont we all have em? With a talent such as his, all students of piano need to listen to his style as a standard.
Sometimes it takes the demons to bring out the genius in a person.
This guy is Fire! 🚒 🔥 He should be in the hall of Blues and Rhythm Fame... The Rhythm And Blues Hall Of Fame!!!
The brilliance of "Put out the light" always brings me to tears - it's just so good!
1blastman i can play most of thst song. just not very well. Luca Sestak rocks that song. check him out on YT. amazing
Will do, but as you know there's a big difference between playing a song that Booker plays and actually capturing the essence of Booker. I will check out Sestak's cover of that. Thanks for the "Tip"!
1blastman ua-cam.com/video/Ks8ikTSJ6ss/v-deo.html
Thanks! I found two versions by him. I like the one you just posted a little better than the other concert video, but both are stellar.
But it didn't move me to tears like Booker's version does. But that's just me.
1blastman oh i agree 100%. i just think Luca is amazing. but yeah Booker is 1 of a kind. Love Booker. his book is so advanced. takes me a super long time to learn even a page. he's so far beyond.
brilliant music of a true master, he knows no limits and has a heart full of soul
The man just takes you on a journey, and I don’t wanna get off the ride.
Beyond glad BOOKER isALIVE on video. Some art gives me Presence
Beautiful.
Thank you, God, for James Booker.
Artur Rubinstein named James Booker as the finest pianist in the world. This wonderful video is evidence to that fact.
Can you prove it? I mean, do you have some interview or video? It's very interesting. I know Horowitz notoriously said it about Art Tatum.
@@neverendinglove2527You are right to ask for validation. So many so-called legitimate quotes that we see on the internet are convenient but have no proven source.
His mastery of the instrument elevates the performance to a constant state of transcendence. The Gershwin was an extra treat.
Thank you so much for posting this video! Booker's was a once in a lifetime talent. There are piano players,and then there is James Booker. He and Professor Longhair were probably the two most gifted I have ever heard.
He is the greatest!
Completely amazing.
Why don't more people know about this genius?
Barry Knight Record companies were afraid to deal with him. Too risky. He was very eccentric and had his demons to deal with. A true genius. A Confederacy of dunces rose against him.
Cos they're not collectively educated...
Household names fair better...
The same question could be asked about many New Orleans musicians. In some cases their record companies made a lot of money off them. Some, admittedly, preferred to stay home and live the good life rather than pursue stardom. Perhaps the music is better for it.
Ikr?!!
His talent brings out goosebumps. He was/is the best. RIP
Just discovering him. Thanks!!!
Steve Sewall no problem!
velvet soul spirit playing hands... and... the listening piano good behavior waiting for the next Booker melody fingers trick...this is it !!
This is pure gold, absolutely love it. Great post!
Timeless! What a treat this is! Thanks
you're welcome
solof
I saw James in the mid seventies at the maple leaf. I was 17 and just back from navy boot camp. It's seems like it was on a Sunday or maybe during the week but the place was just about empty. I stayed thru all his sets which ended around 2 or 3 in the morning. I could not belive the place wasn't packed 'cause he was so good. When the show was over I followed him outside and told him he was fantastic. He looked at me up and down through his eye patch and just scoffed and walked into the night down Oak st. My feeling's were a bit hurt, but I realize now with age how frustrated this man must have felt at this point in his life.
@@billwarning1538 wow! thanks for sharing. I'd be a little pissed. haha. but still be happy to have heard him live! that's awesome.
Im completely amazed
A fantastic set, with his voice as well as his piano playing at its best. Thank you for posting it.
No problem
This is the way.
Thanks for sharing for eternity
Superklasse, kannte ich noch nicht! Danke!
Bitte schön
Increíble, magnífico, sensacional!!!!10/10 👍
Thank you so much for uploading this!
no problem!
Grateful to add my personal Thumbs Up #667, to sanctify this heavenly music
24:05 ‘Man I Love’ then ‘Can’t Help Loving Dat Man’, incredible, I could listen to Booker play standards all day
Great document, thank you for adding this.
No problem
The dexterity of this genuine genius, likened to "spiders on the piano keys."
Harry Connick Jr.
RIP l love to listen to you.
Joy ❤️
Amazing talent. Described as "a dozen spiders on the keyboard," his technique is untouchable.
Nobody can sound like him. There are many great players of course. But nobody can replicate the same exact sound which is pretty crazy.
amazing. thank you
*James Caroll Booker - December 17, 1939 - November 8, 1983* - Shared on FaceBook November 8, 2020
Booker ist mit dem Piano auf die Welt gekommen Weltklasse wird NIE jemand übertreffen können
Niemand kann so spielen wie er
@@Bullwinkel Hallo Bullwinkel
Vor ca.3 Jahren hat mich Booker in seinen Bann gezogen. Irgend wann habe ich seine Biographie gelesen und ich musste sehr weinen.
Ganz arme Leute machen die beste Musik lg martin
Hat mich gefreut
Ich habe Booker das erste Mal gehört um 1977, als er in Europa die hierzulande bekannten Platten aufnahm, auch in HH spielte. Seitdem hat er mich in den Bann gezogen wie kein zweiter Blues-Pianist es je konnte. Damals lernte ich das Klavierspielen von Yancey-, Ammons-, Weber-, Zwingenberger-Platten, weil ich Booker einfach nicht 'begriff'; seine dermaßen komplexen Arrangements, den Polyrhythmus, die irrsten Tonarten. Erst Jahrzehnte später, dank der Noten-Transkriptionen und Amateuer-Videos wie diesem hier wagte ich mich an die Interpretation seiner besten Stücke heran, mit Stummelfingern.. hoffnungslos. Als endloser Ideen-Spender diente er mir seither, wann immer ich an den Tasten sitze. Man kann seine Stücke wie 'True' 100x hören und entdeckt immer wieder etwas mehr, noch eine raffinierte Bewegung, einen bisher entgangenen Akkord-Lauf. Oder 'Pixie', oder 'Classified' oder ..oder..
Der Mann war ein zutiefst unterbewertetes Phänomen seiner Zeit, dem erst nach seinem frühen Tod der Respekt entgegenbracht wurde, der ihm immer schon zustand. Die Film-Bio, die vielen Plattenveröffentlichungen und die nach und nach auftauchenden Videos haben ihm jetzt endlich zu Ruhm und Ehre verholfen.
DIe Bandbreite seines Schaffens, die Vielfalt seiner, sogar klassischen, Stücke, seine grundehrliche Spielweise sind einzigartig. Gegenüber ihm waren die anderen Blues/Boogie/Ragtime/Stride Pianisten aus N.O., Chicago oder NYC 'one trick ponies'; er spielte sie alle gegen die Wand. "Spiders on the keys", hier kann man sehen, wie filigran seine Fingerarbeit war. Es sieht SOOO einfach aus..
Dieses Video war mir bis dato nicht bekannt. Die hier verkürzt gespielte Fassung von "I'm True" ist bei weitem nicht so faszinierend wie die herzzerreißende Lang-Version aus Montreux. Sie halbwegs authentisch interpretieren zu können wird mir ein lebenslanger, aber unerfüllbarer, Wunsch bleiben, so true..
R.I.P. James, "You made my day"; wait, no: "You made my LIFE!"
Right on message for today.
I saw that like half a decade ago it trended #1
Real player, earning his money. Not with Lights and electric gizmos, lies ! R.I.P.
How do you find such wonderful Complete film. This is so educational for us pianists! Thanks so much!
this was given to me over a decade ago. dont know where they got it either
James Booker...an american treasure
I wonder where I can get a decent copy of this performance 😩 it does exist as there’s a good clip in the documentary of this gig but can’t find it anywhere😡😡 #besteverbookerperformance 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Geil!!!
I've been classified...
me too lol
I guess booker is our leader
Is the Nice jazz festival still on?? It had the greatest jazz musicians and a very nice atmosphere with views on the Mediterranean sea
Both the Nice and Antibes festivals take place annually in July but the talent pool has diminished.
He reminds me of Ray Charles!
The BBc are airing a radio programme "Oasis at Knebworth, I was there!" were you , wow?? Was it really loud?
i wasn't there. I was only 1 year old at that time. haha. but i have connections with some people so i was given this. pretty cool!
I presume you mean 1 yr old in 1978, yes?
+Roy O'Shea yes
haha. wow yeah knebworth with an excruciatingly mediocre band playing overblown and self important rock songs. what joys
All hail to the ivory empior
Wow! thank you!. Do you have anymore video from the GPdJ series in Cimiez ?
Aram Gerstein just my Professor Longhair video at same day and place.
10:21 hip little lick to keep the vamp interesting
He taught Dr John how to play the organ with foot pedals !! when he was 12 years old pal Allan Toussaint said he was so far ahead nobody could match Booker
Yeah even today I dont hear the same sound that Booker was able to produce. There are many brilliant players of course, but booker was 1 of a kind
He taught Harry Connick Jr. how to play the piano who speaks so very highly of him. He said he was one of the sweetest men he had ever met. It is a known fact that some musicians refused to play with James because they could not keep up with him and felt inadequate. He was a sheer musical genius and many New Orleans musicians recognized it immediately. RIP James, thank you for being here with us, albeit too short a time. I will carry your incredible music in my heart always.
Fantastic music, but i wonder if the last tune is a little more than close to the bone. Dirty low down shame.
Is there a place to find a higher quality video of this?
not sure. was recorded in 1978 so it was VCR quality. maybe I can try and improve the quality somehow but I am not experienced in that field.
I thought it wasnt too bad personally. I mean, i prefer better quality of course, but it's kinda cool seeing how it originally looks as well
......