James Booker
Staring at the ceiling in the dark, I feel like I’m a tired log which has traveled through a storm: blown away, knocked around, torn down. You know, one of those days when you wake up in the middle of the night, feeling utterly helpless and completely alone.
At those moments, I take out United, Our Thing Will Stand, a collection of James Booker’s live performances at Tipitina’s in 70’s, and play track 3 on Disc 1 — That’s Life / Ain’t Nobody’s Business / Precious Lord — my go-to music when I’m a wreck. I then find everything I need. James Booker gets me. He knows my pain and despair, and says that’s OK; it’s OK to feel like that sometimes; it’s OK to cry. He takes my hand, and leads me on.
Yuki
Born in:
New Orleans, United States
Groove:
Ridiculously groovy
Piano tone:
Romantic piano music played by classical concert pianists
Piano voice:
Every single voice is masterfully controlled
Key touch:
Delicate, relaxed but firm and accurate. Powerful and punchy but never harsh
Ghost notes usage:
A lot
Improvisation skills:
As well as the great improvisation on the solos, there is ingeniously created, well balanced structure throughout the songs
Arrangement skills:
He often makes better renditions of the famous version of the song (or the original)
Favorite technique:
Romantic piano technique
Important hand digits:
All (obviously) but especially the thumbs of both hands
Choice of keys:
All are perfectly chosen to meet the physical and natural piano playing techniques required (similar to Chopin's key choices)
Vocals:
Soulful, always delivering the meaning behind the songs
Emotional impact:
Very high. Often making Yuki and Smiggles cry