Celebrating the Almost Unknown Juni Booth

While his musical history goes back over 50 years, while working with major Jazz players such as alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist McCoy Tyner and bandleader Sun Ra, among many others, sometime-Buffalo, N.Y.-based Juni Booth is as little know as a Free Jazz player can be. On the occasion of a Booth gig in the city, The Buffalo News’ Jeff Simon tries to rectify the situation by highlighting his achievements. Simon’s recounting of Booth’s eccentricities may be one reason for the bassist’s obscurity. He has frequently spelled his first name as Joony, Jooney, Junnieh or Juini and often gives fictional names when approached by impressed fans.