The Lost Paramount Tapes by James Booker (Vinyl, 1997)

General General

0752830936041

20050201524

Alvin Robinson, James Booker, Jessie Hill

Vinyl

1997

The Lost Paramount Tapes

LP

Piano

Blues

Personnel includes: James Booker, John Boudreaux, Jessie Hill, Richard "Didimus" Washington, David Lastie, Alvin "Shine" Washington. Recorded at Paramount Recording Studios, Hollywood, California in 1973. This is a disc made by one of the best piano players to come out of New Orleans, James Booker, playing with an all-star band of New Orleans musicians, most of whom Booker befriended during his days with Dr. John. The music sparkles, all the more amazing because it was recorded live in the L.A. area with no overdubs in 1973, and is just being released in 1997 because it was lost for 20 years. This disc hits a groove and does not quit, shifting from straight-ahead blues to an R&B beat, drifting into some complex Caribbean rhythms, moving off into some jazz riffs, but all the time maintaining the original blues feel it started with. All the players get to shine, but it is definitely James Booker's disc. ~ Bob Gottlieb

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