Cornell Dupree - 1974 - Teasin'

Cornell Dupree 

1974 

Teasin'

01. Teasin' 3:54

02. Blue Nocturne 5:15

03. Jamaican Lady 3:52

04. Feel All Right 3:18

05. How Long Will It Last 3:21

06. What Would I Do Without You? 5:47

07. Okie Dokie Stomp 2:47

08. Plain Ol' Blues 8:12

Baritone Saxophone – Seldon Powell (tracks: 4 to 8), Trevor Koehler (tracks: 1 to 3)

Bass – Chuck Rainey

Drums – Bernard Purdie

Guitar, Sitar – Cornell Dupree

Keyboards – Richard Tee (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 7, 8)

Percussion – Ralph MacDonald

Saxophone – David Newman (tracks: 1 to 3), Joe Farrell (tracks: 4 to 8), Seldon Powell (tracks: 1 to 3)

Trombone – Garnett Brown

Trumpet – Ernie Royal (tracks: 4 to 8), Joe Newman, Jon Faddis (tracks: 1 to 3)

Though he had been a key session player for Atlantic since the late 1960s, guitarist Cornell Dupree was finally given the opportunity to record his own date for the label in 1974. Teasin' was co-produced by Mark Meyerson and Michael Cuscuna. Dupree's band for the date was made up of ace session players including drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, bassist Chuck Rainey, percussionist Ralph MacDonald, his fellow Stuff co-founder Richard Tee on keyboards, and saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman. Other horn players on various tracks include Joe Farrell, Ernie Royal, Jon Faddis, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Seldon Powell, and Garnett Brown. Given Dupree's pedigree, there's an unmistakable Southern Texas vibe on the set, although it was recorded in New York. It's most notable in the appropriately named "Blue Nocturne," the gospel-flavored "What Would I Do Without You," the rocking "Feel All Right," and the T-Bone Walker-influenced "Okie Dokie Stomp" (Walker was one of Dupree's biggest influences). But the guitar player's jazz-funk side gets plenty of play, too, evidenced the grooving title cut, "How Long Will It Last," and even the Caribbean-tinged "Jamaican Lady." The arrangements on these latter tunes recall the CTI sound quite a bit but are, as a whole, punchier and somewhat more dynamic. This is a feel-good date to be sure, but it features stellar musicianship, good charts, and excellent soloing from Dupree and Newman.

The first album as a leader by guitarist Cornell Dupree -- but one that was recorded after years of jazz, soul, and rock session and sideman work during the 60s and 70s! It's great to finally hear Cornell get out in front of the mix -- hitting those lean, stretched-out lines that always made other folks' records sound so great -- but which are even better here in the laidback, soulful setting of the album! Other players on the date include familiar partners Bernard Purdie on drums, David Newman on saxophones, Richard Tee on keyboards, Chuck Rainey on bass, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion -- and although recorded in New York, there's plenty of southern influences bubbling through the instrumental tracks.