Kay Meek Centre and DOXA Documentary Film Festival present Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Lily Keber. Tickets: $12. For more information visit kaymeekcentre.com/on_stage/1732.
Lily Keber’s new documentary Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.”
The film features interviews with Booker’s New Orleans colleagues such as Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas plus archival footage of the man performing in his prime.
To coincide with screenings of the documentary Rounder Records has released James Booker’s Classified: Remixed and Expanded. a 22 track album including nine never-before-released performances showing Booker’s wide-ranging, encyclopedic take on music — encompassing both street and symphonic aspects as only a New Orleans musician can do. You get both gutbucket blues and Chopin rhapsody when you enter James Booker's world.
