New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live!

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
All Music Guide to Soul	[1]
Robert Christgau	A−[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[14]
Lincoln Journal Star	[15]
Los Angeles Times	[16]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide	[17]
Oakland Tribune	[18]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[19]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide	[12]
Santa Barbara News and Review	[20]

The Oakland Tribune called New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! "one of the best blues albums in some time."^[18] The News & Observer said that Booker's vocals "are a heavy dose of head tones and Ray Charles-like sanctification".^[21] The Los Angeles Times opined that the album was "derivative but earnest", but praised "Black Night" and "Keep On Gwine".^[16] The Lincoln Journal Star stated that "the New Orleans rhythm and blues style is distinctively syncopated, and Booker's version is engagingly personal."^[15]

The Detroit Free Press noted, "It's true that he'd never make it on his voice alone, but darn in that cracked tenor can't grow on you."^[5] The San Francisco Examiner said that Booker "has a stronger harmonic sense than most blues pianists".^[22] Robert Christgau wrote that "his arpeggios, harmonies, and insidious timing create an irresistible roller coaster effect".^[13]

The album won the Grand Prix du Disque de Jazz.^[23] It is included in Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.^[24]

Side one

1. "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
2. "Black Night"
3. "Keep On Gwine"
4. "Come Rain or Come Shine"
5. "Something Stupid"

Side two

1. "Please Send Me Someone to Love"
2. "Tell Me How Do You Feel"
3. "Let Them Talk"
4. "Come In My House"