He was a one-eyed, drug-addicted piano genius who wore a wig stuffed with marijuana and once held a gun to his head on stage – now a new film tells James Booker's extraordinary story
It was the legendary Louisiana musician Dr John who memorably described James Booker as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced". Though Booker – who died from hard living in 1983 at the age of 43 – would have undoubtedly approved of the description, it does diminish his musical stature somewhat, while only hinting at his flamboyance and talent for self-destruction.
In a new documentary, Bayou Maharajah, which screens at the Barbican this week as part of the London jazz festival, Booker emerges as a complex figure, dogged by demons and an on-off addiction to heroin. "When I moved to New Orleans in 2006, I heard his name a lot," says its director, Lily Keber, who hails from Georgia.
It was the legendary Louisiana musician Dr John who memorably described James Booker as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced". Though Booker – who died from hard living in 1983 at the age of 43 – would have undoubtedly approved of the description, it does diminish his musical stature somewhat, while only hinting at his flamboyance and talent for self-destruction.
In a new documentary, Bayou Maharajah, which screens at the Barbican this week as part of the London jazz festival, Booker emerges as a complex figure, dogged by demons and an on-off addiction to heroin. "When I moved to New Orleans in 2006, I heard his name a lot," says its director, Lily Keber, who hails from Georgia.
- 11/20/2013
- by Sean O'Hagan
- The Guardian - Film News
News
Greg Rikaart‘s got a primetime role, Soap Opera Digest reports. The Young & the Restless hunk set to appear in an episode of Bones set at a couples’ retreat.
Fox News found itself in the position of issuing a denial to Fox News over a report claiming that Megyn Kelly would be taking over Sean Hannity‘s time slot. Fox previously announced that Kelly would be getting a show in prime time when she returned from maternity leave, but also signed new deals for its prime time hosts, leaving the question of where she would appear in the prime time lineup.
Kathy Griffin will play herself in an episode of the upcoming TV Land comedy Kirstie, according to TheWrap. In an incident that Griffin says mirrors her own experience, she’ll move into the apartment next to the one where Kirstie Alley‘s character lives. Unhappy at having a more famous celebrity next door,...
Greg Rikaart‘s got a primetime role, Soap Opera Digest reports. The Young & the Restless hunk set to appear in an episode of Bones set at a couples’ retreat.
Fox News found itself in the position of issuing a denial to Fox News over a report claiming that Megyn Kelly would be taking over Sean Hannity‘s time slot. Fox previously announced that Kelly would be getting a show in prime time when she returned from maternity leave, but also signed new deals for its prime time hosts, leaving the question of where she would appear in the prime time lineup.
Kathy Griffin will play herself in an episode of the upcoming TV Land comedy Kirstie, according to TheWrap. In an incident that Griffin says mirrors her own experience, she’ll move into the apartment next to the one where Kirstie Alley‘s character lives. Unhappy at having a more famous celebrity next door,...
- 8/9/2013
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
New Orleans — For more than two decades, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has closed with a performance by the city's own Neville Brothers.
On Sunday, that tradition changed. Aaron Neville performed on a stage with his new band while young brass band frontman Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews closed the festival's biggest stage – where the Neville Brothers once held court the last day.
Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue, entertained a jam-packed crowd as the festival ended its 2013 run. A sea of faces stretched to the track's back fence.
Neville said he views the closing lineup change as kind of a "passing of the guard.
"Trombone Slim, as I call him, will do a great job," Neville said of Andrews. "I remember when it was Professor Longhair out there and then we did it for a long time. It's time. Slim is a big musician and I'm proud of the way he's handled himself.
On Sunday, that tradition changed. Aaron Neville performed on a stage with his new band while young brass band frontman Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews closed the festival's biggest stage – where the Neville Brothers once held court the last day.
Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue, entertained a jam-packed crowd as the festival ended its 2013 run. A sea of faces stretched to the track's back fence.
Neville said he views the closing lineup change as kind of a "passing of the guard.
"Trombone Slim, as I call him, will do a great job," Neville said of Andrews. "I remember when it was Professor Longhair out there and then we did it for a long time. It's time. Slim is a big musician and I'm proud of the way he's handled himself.
- 5/5/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Created "to recognize the most outstanding achievements in electronic media, including radio, television and cable," the 72 annual Peabody Awards were handed out last night.
With the eligibility period covering the calendar year of 2012, winners included Girls Season 1, Louie Season 3 and many more. Read on for a full list...
"Under Fire: Journalists in Combat" (Documentary Channel HD)Juf Pictures Inc., Documentary Channel, Canada A fascinating exploration of the mentality of war-zone reporters and the toll their dangerous, chosen work can have on them.
"Why Poverty?" (PBS)Steps International Eight films, each distinctive in tone and style, give us parallax views of poverty today and through the ages.
"Mlk: The Assassination Tapes" (Smithsonian Channel)1895 Films for Smithsonian Channel Painstakingly configured from rare footage collected at the University of Memphis in 1968, the documentary relives the events leading up to the murder of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and its aftermath.
"Reel Time:...
With the eligibility period covering the calendar year of 2012, winners included Girls Season 1, Louie Season 3 and many more. Read on for a full list...
"Under Fire: Journalists in Combat" (Documentary Channel HD)Juf Pictures Inc., Documentary Channel, Canada A fascinating exploration of the mentality of war-zone reporters and the toll their dangerous, chosen work can have on them.
"Why Poverty?" (PBS)Steps International Eight films, each distinctive in tone and style, give us parallax views of poverty today and through the ages.
"Mlk: The Assassination Tapes" (Smithsonian Channel)1895 Films for Smithsonian Channel Painstakingly configured from rare footage collected at the University of Memphis in 1968, the documentary relives the events leading up to the murder of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and its aftermath.
"Reel Time:...
- 3/27/2013
- by matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal)
- TVfanatic
When it came to devising a list of what I felt were the top ten Television shows of 2012 I contemplated sticking with the theme of “Hey You Geeks!!” and centering the list solely on the best sci-fi and nerd related shows on TV. I generally group “Geek TV” into a segment of shows exclusively featuring a sci-fi, comic book, fantasy or horror spin. Unfortunately, that does an injustice to both the term Geek and the medium of Television. Geeks are not held to one or few specific genres and the geek classification can be attached to literally anything if someone is enthusiastic or expertly dedicated to that particular thing. Not to mention, a lot of the sci-fi, horror and comic shows on TV tend to be terrible.
Sure, there are Walking Dead geeks who create memes after each episode and debate every zombie kill and change from the comics. But...
Sure, there are Walking Dead geeks who create memes after each episode and debate every zombie kill and change from the comics. But...
- 12/17/2012
- by Tony Nunes
- SoundOnSight
Treme, Season 3, Episode 7: “Promised Land”
Written by David Simon, Chris Rose & Micah Kibodeaux
Directed by Tim Robbins
Airs Sundays at 10pm (Et) on HBO
This week, on Treme: Chief Lambreaux takes his walk, Antoine’s band jams with the Marines, and Sofia misses her dad
Treme always knocks it out of the park with their Mardi Gras episodes and this season is no exception. “Promised Land” runs almost 70 minutes, but it earns every second. Things start off well, with confirmation for the audience that Sofia has ditched her loser boyfriend and is making eyes at LP, though he (perhaps unknowingly) lets her down as painlessly as possible. After a stern conversation with Sofia’s now-ex, and a drink at the judges’ table, Toni takes the rest of the episode off, as does Sofia, for the most part.
It wouldn’t be the Treme Mardi Gras episode, though, without...
Written by David Simon, Chris Rose & Micah Kibodeaux
Directed by Tim Robbins
Airs Sundays at 10pm (Et) on HBO
This week, on Treme: Chief Lambreaux takes his walk, Antoine’s band jams with the Marines, and Sofia misses her dad
Treme always knocks it out of the park with their Mardi Gras episodes and this season is no exception. “Promised Land” runs almost 70 minutes, but it earns every second. Things start off well, with confirmation for the audience that Sofia has ditched her loser boyfriend and is making eyes at LP, though he (perhaps unknowingly) lets her down as painlessly as possible. After a stern conversation with Sofia’s now-ex, and a drink at the judges’ table, Toni takes the rest of the episode off, as does Sofia, for the most part.
It wouldn’t be the Treme Mardi Gras episode, though, without...
- 11/12/2012
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
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