Longer, higher quality version here:- • James Booker Kaarst DV... James Booker playing for friends in Europe 1978. Filmed by the late German collector Dietrich Von Staden.
I can't even begin to describe the greatness of this mind-bending artist. To this day, his music grabs hold of my heart in a way not much other music is able to. Thanks for this.
Hi Folks, WOW! THIS is what UA-cam is all about! "If I never, ever, never had a cent, I wouldn't be so worried. Gold dust at my feet on the Sunny Side of the Street!" This is the 'gold dust' and it should remain on UA-cam forever! jay
I will say, that I am listening to this song, sitting in my New Orleans office 26 floors up, looking in the direction of the ninth ward, downtown as they use to call it, to where Booker was from, and just know that he is loved by all musicians who know of him, knew him, and were lucky enough to see him live! We all love you BOOKER!
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.
@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
Thank you for this fantastic footage...he was truly at one with the piano. So sorry I never saw him in person, but he is currently being brought to my students...none of them were aware of his genius. Sure he was a very troubled soul...most sensitive and artistic types are...
Despite all of the Booker on UA-cam, I keep coming back to this gem...the piano is simply an extension of the man. How I wish someone knew about cross-lighting!
I entirely agree with Professor down below :) It's flamin' marvellous to get to see this. I've jammed a couple of versions of "Oh Holy Night" in that style in the past. Nice to see James had the same idea!
Booker was very gifted...He is also a someone who had many styles under his belt musically. He could just sit down and play whatever came to mind, stringing songs together and completing a set or song with a star filled mysterious blue night sky...He claimed to have been taught by Jellyroll
i heard about mr booker for the first time this morning on NPR. a young woman is making a documentary about him so that more people can know what a one of a kind talent he was. the documentary should be out in a yr, but she is having trouble raising funds for the editing etc. thanks so much for posting this video.
¡Tierno y genial hasta la conmoción! Algo que acentúa este film casero, presintiendo en él esa fragilidad intrínseca. La imagen un tanto quebradiza nos lo acerca como si estuviera ahí, tras la puerta entreabierta de la alcoba en sesión sin trampa, al modo de esos momentos en los que la verdad se revela sin mayor expectativa.
I think this is the only recording of Fortune Teller by Booker that exists. It's incredible. Toussaint wrote it for Benny [RIP] and it was one of his hits. Booker's interpretation of this song gives it much more depth and feeling.
Cox Cable in New Orleans did a two hour special on Booker in 1983. It's a video of two sets that he does at the Maple Leaf Bar. It may be the set that I saw on youtube in part about a week or so ago, but can't locate now. This video is just under two hours and is a revelation in Booker's style, personality and overall joy of being the Spider on the Keys. Has anyone seen or heard of this video?
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.
So gorgeous. May I add my voice to the chorus of thank yous. I sometimes wish someone would put together a compilation of everything recorded (sound and video) or James. I truly think he is the best there ever was. It is a task I would gladly undertake if I had contacts with people holding these gems. Is this video available anywhere but here?
Does anyone have a copy of this full movie? I'm sure a longer, better quality version of this film exists as parts of this recording were used in the new documentary on Booker by Lilly Kebber. Does anyone have it? Thanks.
I think It's an instrumental version of Allen Toussaint's "Fortune Teller", but Booker takes the song to places it's never been. Booker could cover another's song, but would take possession of it. He medley's out of it in about 90 seconds, but it's brilliant.
I think I have a copy of it that has been circulating...if you can laboriously tell me how to send it to you, I will more than be happy to do so. I am not a computer guru and am just happy to open my email.
The first time I heard a recording by James Booker I could have sworn there were two people playing two pianos. Unreal composer and performer.
Spiders on the keys!
Best piece of music ever!!!
I can't even begin to describe the greatness of this mind-bending artist. To this day, his music grabs hold of my heart in a way not much other music is able to.
Thanks for this.
Hi Folks, WOW! THIS is what UA-cam is all about! "If I never, ever, never had a cent, I wouldn't be so worried. Gold dust at my feet on the Sunny Side of the Street!" This is the 'gold dust' and it should remain on UA-cam forever! jay
So grateful this has been preserved and shared.👏👏👏
The best piano player that ever lived he could do it all listen to Tico Tico mind blowing
IMPORTANT!!!!!!!Some of the most beautiful music ever performed!!!!
Subjective.
I will say, that I am listening to this song, sitting in my New Orleans office 26 floors up, looking in the direction of the ninth ward, downtown as they use to call it, to where Booker was from, and just know that he is loved by all musicians who know of him, knew him, and were lucky enough to see him live! We all love you BOOKER!
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.
What a treasure! I love every note he ever played or sang.
@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
Thank you for this fantastic footage...he was truly at one with the piano. So sorry I never saw him in person, but he is currently being brought to my students...none of them were aware of his genius. Sure he was a very troubled soul...most sensitive and artistic types are...
i always come back to this
How'd ya like an extra hour and a half!
ua-cam.com/video/xaH9-4upAuM/v-deo.html
Despite all of the Booker on UA-cam, I keep coming back to this gem...the piano is simply an extension of the man. How I wish someone knew about cross-lighting!
This is Booker's solo piano playing at its best. I wish the picture was better, but the music is pure and utter genius.
I entirely agree with Professor down below :)
It's flamin' marvellous to get to see this. I've jammed a couple of versions of "Oh Holy Night" in that style in the past. Nice to see James had the same idea!
Dom, I found a longer version for you. It’s crazy 😜 ua-cam.com/video/xaH9-4upAuM/v-deo.html
Booker was very gifted...He is also a someone who had many styles under his belt musically. He could just sit down and play whatever came to mind, stringing songs together and completing a set or song with a star filled mysterious blue night sky...He claimed to have been taught by Jellyroll
i heard about mr booker for the first time this morning on NPR. a young woman is making a documentary about him so that more people can know what a one of a kind talent he was. the documentary should be out in a yr, but she is having trouble raising funds for the editing etc. thanks so much for posting this video.
Doc's book is "Under a Hoodoo Moon"--lotsa great stories about Booker and other Nawlins greats.
Just so immediate and wonderful.....
i love the end especially.booker! you are like a whole orchestra by your self!
Wonderful to see this great footage of Booker in the HQ setting. I can see it much better now. Thanks so much!!!
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!
BEAUTIFUL.
Absolutely superb footage. Had to learn the fortune teller immediately from this. A rare up close and personal view of the great man
¡Tierno y genial hasta la conmoción! Algo que acentúa este film casero, presintiendo en él esa fragilidad intrínseca. La imagen un tanto quebradiza nos lo acerca como si estuviera ahí, tras la puerta entreabierta de la alcoba en sesión sin trampa, al modo de esos momentos en los que la verdad se revela sin mayor expectativa.
So beautiful!
Thanks my friend EngelmannSpruce to show me this pearl!
I think this is the only recording of Fortune Teller by Booker that exists. It's incredible. Toussaint wrote it for Benny [RIP] and it was one of his hits. Booker's interpretation of this song gives it much more depth and feeling.
Cox Cable in New Orleans did a two hour special on Booker in 1983. It's a video of two sets that he does at the Maple Leaf Bar. It may be the set that I saw on youtube in part about a week or so ago, but can't locate now. This video is just under two hours and is a revelation in Booker's style, personality and overall joy of being the Spider on the Keys. Has anyone seen or heard of this video?
wow!
thank you
Awesome video Andre! Thank you for sharing! You've greally got a treasure trove of Booker material!
professor501 Here’s an extra 90 minutes in better quality 👍 ua-cam.com/video/xaH9-4upAuM/v-deo.html
Thanks man, a welcome addition to my Booker collection :D
Dommage que les mains du génie n'aient pas été plus filmé ! Sinon super document d'archive !
Thank you so much, a gem !
Amazing!
Genius!!
i love this
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.
Nice one!
Glad you enjoyed seeing it guys and thanks for the info Dom, I didn't know what he was playing here. Any idea what the other tunes are?
"Fortune teller" by allen toussaint
Looks like it was filmed around 1910.
I like it though; gives it kind of a timeless atmosphere.
I've uploaded a longer better quality version of this footage here: ua-cam.com/video/xaH9-4upAuM/v-deo.html
So gorgeous. May I add my voice to the chorus of thank yous. I sometimes wish someone would put together a compilation of everything recorded (sound and video) or James. I truly think he is the best there ever was. It is a task I would gladly undertake if I had contacts with people holding these gems. Is this video available anywhere but here?
Does anyone have a copy of this full movie? I'm sure a longer, better quality version of this film exists as parts of this recording were used in the new documentary on Booker by Lilly Kebber. Does anyone have it? Thanks.
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/xaH9-4upAuM/v-deo.html
@jjs98 google youtube downloader, install it and then save the clip as an mp3.
nath909 O Holy Night starts about then
What happened to the HQ option for this one? I miss it!
I would love to see this in higher resolution.
Is there any way?
1 • … 0:00
2 • … 1:05
3 • … 1:23
4 • … 6:13 (7:53)
Where did you get this footage???
What is the name of last song?
can someone tell me what the song is at 6:13?
I think It's an instrumental version of Allen Toussaint's "Fortune Teller", but Booker takes the song to places it's never been. Booker could cover another's song, but would take possession of it. He medley's out of it in about 90 seconds, but it's brilliant.
gh
fantastic clip -but why doesnt he just say Put Out The Light to the cameraman (sorry)
Whats tthe song that starts at 1:26?
Pretty sure it is a slow version of O Holy Night
Dana Pine
Yeah you are right
I think I have a copy of it that has been circulating...if you can laboriously tell me how to send it to you, I will more than be happy to do so. I am not a computer guru and am just happy to open my email.
one person has no soul.
Best piece of music ever!!!