Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Spiders On Keys
Spiders on keys, indeed. This past March, the long awaited James Booker documentary, Bayou Maharajah, premiered at SXSW in Austin. It was met with widespread critical acclaim. I was first hipped to this bonafide New Orleans piano legend thirteen years ago via a live solo recording from the early 70s. And that was it — there was no turning back, I had to hear it all. Prior to the omnipotence of the Internet, much of Booker’s life outside of the recordings themselves was a mystery comprised of hearsay, exaggeration and half-truths. In fact, much of what I initially cribbed concerning the late Booker’s life was thanks to excerpts from the excellent (now back in print) Dr. John biography “Under a Hoodoo Moon.” Wild/fascinating tales that only stoked the Booker mythology.
Here are twenty from the mind/soul of Booker...the piano prince of New Orleans, the Bayou Maharajah.
ABOUT AQUARIUM DRUNKARD
Based in Los Angeles, Justin Gage is the founder of the long-running, eclectic music blog Aquarium Drunkard. In addition to the blog you can catch his weekly radio show, Fridays, on SIRIUS XMU satellite radio -- noon-2pm EST.
Gage is also the founder of Autumn Tone Records and works as a music consultant and supervisor.