James Booker with Jerry Garcia - Palo Alto Rehersals (1976) (mp3, 160kbps)

This is a nice, clear sounding recording of two monstrous talents jamming together.  I don't know the story of these shows, other than that in 1976 James Booker got to Palo Alto to play a few gigs with Jerry Garcia and his band.  And while Jerry obviously has a lot of respect for Booker's other-worldly boogie woogie, there are moments of disconnect - like when, after playing the song 'Classified' for about 9 minutes during these rehearsals (during which the title of the song is repeated numerous times in the refrain) Garcia says, "What do you call that?"  Huh?  You're jamming with James Booker and you don't know that song?

But it should all be forgiven for the opportunity to hear these two, not only jamming, but also sharing ideas during this unique rehearsal tape.  Booker teaches as he plays, and Garcia is tastefully restrained until the right moment.  I have a decent recording of on of the live shows which followed this rehearsal, and I will post that sometime, but the practice is even more fun as they work out the arrangements and jam in a more relaxed atmosphere.

1. Tico Tico (piano)
2. Tico Tico (organ)
3. Don't Try To Be Your Brother's Keeper
4. Don't Try To Be Your Brother's Keeper
5. Something You've Got
6. Something You've Got
7. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
8. Irene Goodnight
9. United, Our Thing Will Stand
10. Classified
11. Right Back Together (intro)
12. Right Back Together

The link is in the comments.

James Booker - Blues & Ragtime From New Orleans (1976) (mp3, 160kbps)

Here's the other record from the same set of shows as the lp featured below. Just a quick note on the performance. Any bad behavior has been clipped out of this pair, which is fine. You just get sheer virtuosity, encompassing the classical training and the baddest boogie woogie ever. He blends all his considerable skills on these two records.

I also have nice scans of the back of the lp sleeves. If they are wanted, I will make them available.

1. Desitively Bonnaroo / Right Place Wrong Time
2. Tico Tico
3. Wake Up Mr. Moon Man
4. Save Your Love / Lonely Avenue
5. All By Myself / I'm In Love Again / Four Winds / Such A Wonderful Feeling
6. People Get Ready
7. Besame Mucho / Until The Real Thing Comes Along
8. Love Monkey / Feel So Bad
9. Ora
10. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

James Booker - The Piano Prince of New Orleans (1976) (mp3 160kbps)

What an outstanding treat. I feel like I'm sitting on a gold mine with these two posts. A few years ago the Dime coughed up this gem, indicating that it was a solo piano show by Mr. Booker emanating from a soundboard or FM source. The dates of the shows are October 29th and 30th, 1976. I made mp3 of this show available way back in the days of my comcast.net version of mpomy.com. That relic had 'Jazz and Blues Fridays', which then lead to the 'Prog Listening Group', which it still up and running and has plenty of tasty musical treats.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to figure out how to get the content off of the old comcast.net page. The links are there, but the music is not. Worse still, Googling this show brings up that same old page - with links but no music. I've even had a request for these from some unknown music-lover. I would never have thought this item was so rare, but a quick search revealed zero good sources.

This morning, I finally found my copies of the disks, only having undergone lossless conversion. When I looked for info on these steller performances, I quickly found out why they sound so amazing. Excerpts of the two dates appear to have been released as two live albums in Germany. Good luck trying to get your hands on THAT vinyl!

So here's disc one - 'The Piano Prince of New Orleans'

1. Life
2. One Helluva Nerve
3. United Our Thing Will Stand
4. Slowly But Surely
5. Too Much Blues
6. Junko Partner
7. Classified
8. Stormy Monday
9. Sixty Minute Man / You Talk Too Much
10. Please Send Me Someone to Love