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leone-julitte
Reviews
Bayou Maharajah (2013)
Humanely and musically inspiring
There is no place like New Orleans to give birth to someone like James Booker and even simply to understand a little bit about this city, it is worthy to watch this documentary.
I don't know what touched me the most, the man, his story or the undeniable genius of his piano playing. I left my first viewing of this movie filled with love, music, laughter and sadness. Filled with a renewed love for New Orleans, its music and its people. Filled with a immense love for James Booker's limitless talent and personality. (and yeah, I saw it again a couple times after that, still the same result)
I often feel musician documentaries don't do justice to their subject, often too dramatized or limited. But here, you can feel the care Lily Keber put into this documentary. The amazing people she gathered to talk about this intricate man, the consequent amount and quality of footage she assembled to carry it. Probably due to the complexity of James Booker's life which called for such a film to exist and forced the out most regard and sharpness for its narration. Also, may be because New Orleans' giant and loud musician community would have whooped her ass if she didn't do it right.
James Booker is a legendary piano master and a person everybody should discover and won't help but fall in love with. Thank you for making this happen Ms. Keber.