BOOKIE (now RIP Walter Booker)

[STRONGBOW]

Any other Walter Booker fans on this forum? I love his sound, his approach, good taste....He always really got a very woody sound out of his old 18th Century Austrian flatback bass. Somebody told me that George Mraz has an old flatback by the same maker

[Francois Blais]

Hi al.
For your information, bassist Walter Booker died yesterday, november 24, 2006.

====================================
Not a flashy player, Walter Booker's a reliable bassist and underrated stylist. His big tone and ability to play well in the bass's highest register reflects his knowledge of vintage and contemporary approaches.
He's also an above average bowed soloist. Booker played clarinet and alto sax in college with a concert band. He began on bass while in the service. Booker worked with Andrew White in Washington after his discharge, playing in the JFK Quintet during the early '60s. He later worked with Donald Byrd, Sonny Rollins and Ray Bryant, Art Farmer, Milt Jackson and Chick Corea in the '60s, before joining Cannonball Adderley.
Booker was in Adderley's band from the late '60s until Adderley's death in 1975, regularly touring and recording. During the mid-'70s and through the '80s, Booker's played and recorded with Betty Carter, Nick Brignola, Billy Higgins, Richie Cole, Phil Woods, John Hicks, Pharoah Sanders, Nat Adderley, Arnett Cobb and Clifford Jordan. He has no sessions available as a leader, but can heard on many CDs by Adderley, Sanders, Jordan, and many others.
~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
====================================

RIP Walter,

François

[mrpc]

I've always loved Walters sound. His Arco work with Miroslav Vitous on Joe Zawinul's "In a Silent Way" has always stayed with me beyond my disinterest in the session it was included on. Such a powerful player, and a great composer as well. Maybe someone else could comment on that.

See ya later in bass-heaven Bookie!

[Ed Fuqua]

Man what a ****ing drag. I got to meet Bookie at a gig he was doing in Augusta GA when I lived there. A piano player, who also rented out his sound equipment, got hired to do the sound at this gig and when I found out it was the Nat Adderly Quartet, I volunteered to help out. The band was Ronnie Matthews, Book and Jimmy Cobb. I sounded him on a lesson and he said " I don't know about that, why don't you just fall by the hotel room after the gig and we can talk?" My buddy Matt (he's a guitarist) came with me and, since there was a nylon string guitar in the room, ended up playing with and for him for a couple of hours. Whenever I was playing with Matt, he'd be talking to me - " hey, we can hear you, you don't have to play so hard, that's it listen to your boy there, nice, stay in there you don't got to try so hard" . It was such a joyful and positive experience having somebody SO solid have any kind of interest in helping me be a better musician. Just a big warm bear of a guy.
He'll be missed.

[mrpc]

Originally Posted by francois

Hi al.
For your information, bassist Walter Booker died yesterday, november 24, 2006.

====================================
He has no sessions available as a leader, but can heard on many CDs by Adderley, Sanders, Jordan, and many others.
~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
====================================

RIP Walter,

François

A quick google search reveals an album in print as a leader and composer. "Bookie's Book".

[Paul Warburton]

I spent some time in Europe with Bookie.

The times i'd go to NY, Bookies amp would always be there in the club waiting for me.
Ed, you know Marshall Fisher? Saraha's ex? Larry Clothier...the Rag Man? All part of Bookies entourage.
All these cats are a piece of work.
Bye Bookie......

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I spent some time in Europe with Bookie.

The times i'd go to NY, Bookies amp would always be there in the club waiting for me.
Ed, you know Marshall Fisher? Saraha's ex? Larry Clothier...the Rag Man? All part of Bookies entourage.
All these cats are a piece of work.
Bye Bookie......

I wanna say Marshall Fisher, cause that sounds familiar. The cat that was hanging with Bookie was a short white guy, not fat but "comfortable", beard and ponytail. Singer that I work with, she and her husband (who's a guitar player) did a buncha work with Bookie, he's on a couple of Roni's records. They have some absolutely HILARIOUS stories.

A "great soul" indeed...

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I wanna say Marshall Fisher, cause that sounds familiar. The cat that was hanging with Bookie was a short white guy, not fat but "comfortable", beard and ponytail. Singer that I work with, she and her husband (who's a guitar player) did a buncha work with Bookie, he's on a couple of Roni's records. They have some absolutely HILARIOUS stories.

A "great soul" indeed...

Yeah, that's Marshall! A laugh riot.....was married to Sarah Vaughn for years...Larry Clothier also known as 'The Rag Man, is a big Jazz promoter I did some tours for. Agent for: Sarah, Carmen and many big time European Fests. He's handling that great young trumpeter who I can't remember his name.

[BklynBuddy17]

Thanks For The Kind WORDS For Walter Booker.
Uncle Bookie was the BEST @ What He Did & was the Real Reason For Many Great Musicians.
Yeah BOOKIE !

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by BklynBuddy17

Thanks For The Kind WORDS For Walter Booker.
Uncle Bookie was the BEST @ What He Did & was the Real Reason For Many Great Musicians.
Yeah BOOKIE !

Right on! Tell us who you are.

[mrpc]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BklynBuddy17 View Post
Thanks For The Kind WORDS For Walter Booker.
Uncle Bookie was the BEST @ What He Did & was the Real Reason For Many Great Musicians.
Yeah BOOKIE !

Right on! Tell us who you are.
__________________
Paul Warburton.
Reply With Quote







Very grateful for BklynBuddy17's post. I, for one, have no desire or need to know who BklynBuddy17 "is". So count me out on that proprietary request/demand "Tell us who you are". For God's sake, one post, and the dude is being grilled for his identity!

I'm here to pay respect to Bookie, and maybe talk about his accomplishments in a manner that is respectful. Birth names shouldn't be required to participate here.

[Ed Fuqua]

Oh chill pookie. All Unca PW wants to know is who Bookie's nephew is. That isn't "being grilled".

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Oh chill pookie. All Unca PW wants to know is who Bookie's nephew is. That isn't "being grilled".

Amen

[mrpc]

Originally Posted by billyfalconer

Amen

I dig your point of view, man. Thank-you!

So do you have any thought or comments about Walter Booker?

[jallenbass]

I met him once at Sweet Basil's. He seemed kind of shy. We shook hands and told him how much I enjoyed his playing. He then excused himself so that he could change into a clean shirt for the next set.

[Ed Fuqua]

Prolly just the club scene. Amy's got some road stories that are absolutley side splittingly hilarious, Bookie's ANYTHING but shy in those...

[Paul Warburton]

Bookie was one of the most colorful people i've ever known, and i've known many! I saw him walking down the streets of Genoa, Italy playing a guitar, with a wine skin over his back and about 20 kids runnin' along side....talk about color! And, if you're into partyin'....look out!!!!
And mrpc, or whatever your real name is, I don't need lectures from from you! I been doing this for 45 years and know most of these people intimately....so show a little respect and back off!

[mrpc]

Mr. Warbutin, kisses sweeter than wine to you, for the rest of your life! :, you big strong handsome fella

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by mrpc

Mr. Warbutin, kisses sweeter than wine to you, for the rest of your life! :, you big strong handsome fella

That's much better Sweetie!!!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Prolly just the club scene. Amy's got some road stories that are absolutley side splittingly hilarious, Bookie's ANYTHING but shy in those...

Yeah! The minute you met Bookie, you'd say to yourself " We gonna have some fun tonite!"