Customer Reviews

Resurrection of Bayou Maharajah

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

But it's true. I regret I never saw Booker live, though I was in New Orleans while he still blew people's minds at the Maple Leaf. You can't possibly accept that what you hear on this CD is live, one man, no overdubs. He could sandwich a half dozen classical composers between Fats Domino, Fess and Gershwin before you know what happened. If you have any appreciation for the piano, buy this, and its companion "Spiders on the Keys".

This recording is a great, great treasure. We are lucky to have Booker live, and of all the booker albums out, this one is perhaps the most profound. The first two tracks are astonishing, and throughout the album, Booker fuses Chopin, Monk, Fatha' Hines, and Cecil Taylor- but it's pure Booker, that mad genius.

Musicians play the piano, but this is one case in which Booker tames the piano; he is in complete control, and as most people have stated- I, too, could swear that I hear at least 3 hands on the piano on all his recordings. Listen to "St. James Infirmary" on this record. It is one of the most diabollicaly painful, lonesome performances ever, ranking with the painful tunes of Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and Lennon.

Booker shows why he is the piano wizard of New Orleans with this high powered, high energy album. Recorded live at the Maple Leaf bar in New Orleans, he slams out tunes and gives the listener an opportunity to get a quick glimpse of near perfection. I highly recommend it.

I first got turned on to the genuis of the mighty James Booker by a rehearsal tape with which he played with the Jerry garcia Band (1-7-76). Since then I've intended to make a Booker purchase but unfortunatly he's not the easiest performer to find in the cd bins.

Well I finally found one and boy what a find! Words cannot even begin to express the joy I get from listening to James. Genius is all that comes to mind. Definatly one of the all time greats of any genre. If you've never heard him or heard very little this cd will make you a fan for sure. Music of the gods!

This is a live club recording of the great James Booker.

The first thing to say about this is that the sound quality is varied and its not a top notch Piano either. These recordings weren't supposed to come out at all.

Booker is erratic, and evidence of this can be found in "All By Myself" which they have had to edit because he probably stopped mid song, being distracted by something or someone. That said "All By Myself" is my favourite track, its a barnstorming performance capturing everything thats great about James Booker.

If you have any interest in New Orleans Piano players, this CD and its sister (Spiders...) are essential purchases. This is what Booker was like when he was just left to play on his own without the constraints of a Band. Nearly all of it is worth having, and quite a lot of it is utterly brilliant.

A night in the life of a certified genius (touched with a healthy dose of insanity).

One of the best musicians under the radar screen of popular recognition you'll ever find; James Booker is the kind of pianist that someone in the know will say "You have to hear this guy play!" And you do. Hearing him the first time is a revelation. Each additional listen adds to the enjoyment of his own eclectic funky New Orleans boogie-woogie blues style, playing like he means it, jumping from one song to the next without breaking pace, only to dissolve into a heart breaking ballad then right back into beakneck speed.

You have to hear this guy play!

James Booker is like a centaurian trickster part man part piano. He "plucks" out otherwordly bass notes and conjures up odd meters out of that beat up upright. Don't let some of the non-sensical words fool you. "Papa Was A Rascal" and the all too short "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" are part of some ritual for the initiated only. You know from the first chord of "Slow Down Baby" this is something special. You ain't never heard piano like that or a voice like that. This is sacred jonko music from some shaman. and he's letting you in on it all. Go for the ride 'cause smoke is rising on the bayou and this...is New Orleans.

As another poster says, hearing Booker for the first time is a revelation. This is how I want to hear the piano played. The skill, the spontenaity, the complexity and beauty, not to mention the fonkiness is out of this world. Thanks, James for working so hard to become what you were--the Piano Prince of New Orleans. I only wish I could have seen him perform before his untimely and far too early death. Rest well, James. You have created timeless music that I will enjoy the rest of my life.

At the outset let me say that I am a great fan of James Booker and wish he had left more recorded material for us to enjoy. It is therefore really disappointing when the talent is overshadowed by the poor quality piano Booker was given for this (and other) series. They must have thought he was a honky tonk player. The left hand of the piano is almost non existent. Just compare the sound here with that on the 'New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live!' Tracks such as Minute Waltz and Gitanarias which showcase his chops and classical background sound amateurish. That he can make a bad piano sound as good as he does is a reflection of the man's genius.