Watch Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker For Free

Too much of everything

Redundant and unnecessary.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

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.

I lived above James Booker in the French Quarter on Dumaine Street in New Orleans in 1983 and one morning I came downstairs on my way to work and saw him standing in front door of his courtyard apartment and he asked me to call him am ambulance. That night when I came home the door to the courtyard was wide open and I somehow sensed the inevitable. I walked over to the french doors of his apartment, peered through the glass. All was quiet but I remember seeing his hats and canes on the wall right in front of me. I found out soon after that he had died that day. His music is exceptional and will send a lightning bolt through you the second you hear him sing and play his first note. Soulful and yearning, the circumstances of his life molded him and we get a real sense of who he was in this film. The effects of his music is immediate and Booker is a dynamic presence. I don't think I'll ever love a piano player more than James Booker and am forever enriched as I recall his sound, electrifying, soulful and grabbing at your heartstrings. How wonderful we get this glimpse into his genius that is so important to remember and pay tribute to.

The fact that this has still not found a distributor makes me worry about the future of the medium. I can honestly say that this is among the greatest documentary films I have ever seen (and I've seen A LOT). James Booker was such an extraordinary character that even a so-so filmmaker would be make something able to hold your interest. Fortunately for us, it comes from a director, Lily Keber, has the potential to rank alongside the undisputed greats such as Errol Morris and Werner Herzog. The only thing that seems to be standing in the way is the fact that there is (as of yet) no distributor. The recent wave of music documentaries spotlighting lesser known bands and musicians ('Searching For Sugarman, A Band Called Death, Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me, etc.) makes this one a surefire hit. GET ON IT!

This film sheds some much-needed light on one of the most flamboyant and talented musicians that New Orleans has ever produced. In this nuanced portrayal, documentarian Lily Keber brings to life the little-known (outside of the New Orleans music scene and jazz/blues aficionado circles) legend of James Carroll Booker III. Tragically, Booker was among the best piano players of all time, but was also prone to mental instability and severe substance abuse issues that limited his career trajectory. In addition to paying fitting tribute to Booker's music, what really shines here is Keber's portrayal of his tortured and complicated personality. This is no small feat. Highly recommended.