Allen toussaint james booker

James carroll booker iii december 17, 1939 november 8, 1983 was a new orleans rhythm. A musical companion 19601965 for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. A fascinating documentary on new orleans piano legend james booker its like the setup to a surreal joke. Allen toussaint, new orleans music legend, dead at 77 matt marshall in a town known worldwide for its music, toussaints name was among the rarified cultural bastions of the city, along with james booker, professor longhair, dr. Apr 21, 2009 allen toussaint was due to play with paul simon in a new orleans benefit concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of new orleans artists against hunger and homelessness, an organization toussaint cofounded, on december 8, 2015.

Find allen toussaint credit information on allmusic. John described as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced. A fascinating documentary on new orleans piano legend james booker its. John described booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever. Allen toussaint sings working in the coalmine in concert with james dean bradfield and john grant. Whether with the grateful dead, his own jerry garcia band, or solo, over the years he took on classics by fats domino, allen toussaint, james booker, and many more, often extended them into ten minute or longer jams. Mick and keith wanted him to play at their after party. Hear jerry garcia cover fats domino, allen toussaint, and. She received a bachelors degree in music therapy at xavier university of louisiana and worked as a session musician in new orleans, performing as a backup singer with allen toussaint, james booker, patti labelle, the pointer sisters, neville brothers, and dr. Bayou maharajah explores the life and music of new orleans piano legend james booker. Toussaints creative genius as a songwriter and producer, along with sehorns considerable connections in the music business, combined to make them a force to be reckoned with. Allen toussaint shares a story of james booker pawning his saxophone after the screening of bayou maharajah.

James booker, bayou maharajah the highlands current. Nov 10, 2015 hugh laurie sings new orleans legend james booker s praises in exclusive bayou maharajah clip five star spotlight. In addition to connick, bayou maharajah features interviews with hugh laurie, allen toussaint, irma thomas, and charles neville. John, allen toussaint, al hirt, the meters, the neville brothers, the radiators, wynton marsalis and many others. Booker was a piano genius, plain and simple, with a singular playing style dizzyingly complex but thoroughly grooveable that made even the likes of. We were basically looking for tunes that had humidity because that was allens signature, says torkanowsky, who then clarifies the definition of the term in relationship to music. Find allen toussaint award information on allmusic allmusic. A junkie and excon, the late james booker was also the epitome of crescent city keyboard artistry. Thompson named his writing style after his song, gonzo.

The resulting murals include images of allen toussaint and james booker. Hear jerry garcia cover fats domino, allen toussaint, and a. Bayou maharajah explores the life, times and music of piano legend james booker, who dr. In my time, james booker was the ultimate, he says. Elvis costello and the attractions trust allen toussaint. Bayou maharajah extra feature pianist allen toussaint on james booker. Booker was the son and grandson of baptist ministers, both of whom played the piano. John, the film also features interviews with booker admirers and associates including. Tuts washington, professor longhair, james booker each was, in his own way, holy. Allen toussaint, performing san diego to say that toussaint s work has been wideranging is an understatement. I think our movie is important for a lot of reasons, director lily keber tells mojo. He practiced until he could replicate the technique, just as he mimicked the other great new orleans players who helped define local piano jelly roll morton, tuts washington, henry butler and the young james booker. Get a free download of the roots and rhythm sampler from concord music group. James booker gonzo, more than all the 45s when reading about booker, you will hear the stories of how he was a prodigy, already being recorded while still in high school these recordings span from 1954 age 15 to 1962 age 23 and labels like imperial, duke, ace and chess.

It was produced by joe henry and includes music from a 20 solo session at the pianists home studio in new orleans and an october 2015 session featuring musicians bill frisell, charles lloyd, greg leisz, jay bellerose, and david piltch, with. Apr 23, 2006 booker, said new orleans record dealer jim russell in a wavelength magazine article after the pianists death, lived 430 years in 43 years. Allen toussaint biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Hugh laurie sings new orleans legend james bookers praises in exclusive bayou maharajah clip. Booker was like no one else, and as allen toussaint says about him in the documentary bayou maharajah. Bookers training included classical instruction until age 12, by which time he had already begun to gain recognition as a blues and gospel organist on radio station wmry every sunday.

Remixed and expanded, succumbing to kidney failure while awaiting medical attention in the. James booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc. Allen toussaint biography, albums, streaming links. Toussaint also began recording newer crescent city artists in hopes of preserving the classic new. James booker died in november 1983, just a year after cutting the tracks that comprise classified. Allen toussaint, performing san diego to say that toussaints work has been wideranging is an understatement. Watch the video for gonzo from james booker s mad men. In the summer 2010 edition of louisiana cultural vistas, journalist kathy. Apr 27, 2018 neville plied his saxophone chops as a member of the renowned dew drop inns house band, supporting legendary musicians like allen toussaint, james booker, huey piano smith and ernie k. Jul 04, 2018 he was acclaimed as a member of a distinctively new orleans piano pantheon alongside jelly roll morton, james booker, tuts washington, professor longhair, fats domino, allen toussaint and dr.

The music on this album spans two hundred two hundredfifty years of american musical history, from louis moreau gottschalk to the brilliance of duke ellington and american jazz to the poetical lyricism of paul simon. Henry butler, quintessential new orleans pianist, is dead at. The tragic genius of james booker at the civic theatre on the closing night of the new. All gave the city similar treasures of musical life. John said he was the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced. He was acclaimed as a member of a distinctively new orleans piano pantheon alongside jelly roll morton, james booker, tuts washington, professor longhair, fats domino, allen toussaint and. The allen toussaint collection, a fine overview of his majorlabel recordings in the 70s, was released in 1991. James carroll booker iii was born in new orleans on december 17, 1939. Nov 10, 2015 the allen toussaint collection, a fine overview of his majorlabel recordings in the 70s, was released in 1991. New orleans piano playersfrom louis moreau gottschalk through professor longhair to james booker and allen toussainttheir playing has humidity in it. The influential new orleans musician, composer, and producer allen toussaint also praised booker, applying the term genius to him. The life, music, and mystique of the bayou maharajah james.

A public tribute to the life of musician, composer, producer allen toussaint scheduled for friday nov. Did you saw what i heard music murals tour new orleans. It celebrates black history month with music from isaac hayes, dianne reeves, the dramatics, james booker, allen toussaint, kris bowers, roberto fonseca, miles davis, harvey. As a farewell, toussaint s american tunes understates its compass.

It was produced by joe henry and includes music from a 20 solo session at the pianists home studio in new orleans and an october 2015 session featuring musicians bill frisell, charles lloyd, greg leisz, jay bellerose, and david piltch, with special. John described booker as the best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new orleans has ever produced. Do not, he seems to be warn his audience, try that if you are not booker. Oct 09, 2011 allen toussaint sings working in the coalmine in concert with james dean bradfield and john grant. Mar 17, 2018 booker was a piano genius, plain and simple, with a singular playing style dizzyingly complex but thoroughly grooveable that made even the likes of allen toussaint shake his head in wonder. There were plenty of characters hanging around new orleans in the 20th century there still are so it says something that piano legend james. If youre on the street taking photos, we invite you to keep a closer walk handy to read up on the artists and their relationship to these spaces. Sep 01, 2016 allen toussaint called james booker a genius. A portrait of james booker by artist gabriel flores of where yart, as commissioned by. It celebrates black history month with music from isaac hayes, dianne reeves, the dramatics, james booker, allen toussaint, kris bowers, roberto fonseca, miles davis, harvey mason, side effect, booker t, george duke and 24. Bayou maharajah pianist allen toussaint on james booker. James booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc dr.

Jelly roll morton, isidore tuts washington, fats domino, professor longhair, james booker, allen toussaint, mac dr. There is a word that is thrown around so loosely for certain people who. In 1996, toussaint formed a new label, nyno, and recorded a full album of new material at his seasaint studio titled connected. Toussaint retains a particular fondness for booker.

From 1979 to 1983 she toured internationally with the musical one mo time. Not ignoring his hometown, he also played saxophone behind allen toussaint, james booker, ernie kdoe and huey piano smith. Johns funk in a sky blue rolls royce with a personalized tag that says piano. New orleans piano genius james booker died 30 years ago at 43 but. John and hugh laurie, as well as neverbefore seen live performances, archival photographs and original stories, the film brings to life the unforgettable story of an american genius. But despite a tendency to refer to himself as the black liberace, blues musician james carroll booker was no novelty act. The best black, gay, oneeyed junkie piano genius new. His father was a onetime dancer from bryan, texas, who decided to change his lifes work by becoming a baptist minister and relocating to new orleans. New orleans jazz fests 50 top headliners from 1970 to 2019. Mar 21, 20 james booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc dr. Henry butler, quintessential new orleans pianist, is dead. Jim gabour is an awardwinning filmvideo producer and director, whose work focuses primarily on music and the diversity of cultures. Allen toussaint was due to play with paul simon in a new orleans benefit concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of new orleans artists against hunger and homelessness, an organization toussaint cofounded, on december 8, 2015. My first encounter was at storied black music radio station wmri when he was 12, and i was, recalls allen toussaint.

John, allen toussaint and more honor eccentric new orleans great. John, irma thomas and allen toussaint, together with a generous helping. The tragic genius of james booker, produced and directed by lily keber, i know the word genius is thrown around loosely, but booker, i considered booker a genius when i met him, and to this day, a true genius. Booker, said new orleans record dealer jim russell in a wavelength magazine article after the pianists death, lived 430 years in 43 years. Bayou maharajah extra feature pianist allen toussaint on james booker duration. Find allen toussaint discography, albums and singles on allmusic. Allen toussaint, who knew booker since childhood, once commented.

There were plenty of characters hanging around new orleans in the 20th century there still are so it says something that piano legend james booker managed to. Allen toussaint, the versatile producer, songwriter, pianist and singer who, for more than six decades, shaped music in his hometown of new orleans and far beyond, died on nov. Neville plied his saxophone chops as a member of the renowned dew drop inns house band, supporting legendary musicians like allen toussaint, james booker, huey. James booker, the black liberace, celebrated in new doc rolling. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises life allen toussaint james booker the piano prince of new orleans. Did you know james booker was harry connick jrs piano teacher. Booker s unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. As a farewell, toussaints american tunes understates its compass. Toussaint also began recording newer crescent city artists in hopes of preserving the classic new orleans sound.

Find allen toussaint award information on allmusic. Interviewees in the documentary include dr john, irma thomas, the late allen toussaint, harry connick jr who took lessons with booker. Allen toussaint public tribute on friday will be broadcast. Jun 28, 2016 there were plenty of characters hanging around new orleans in the 20th century there still are so it says something that piano legend james booker managed to earn a reputation as the best.