4.0 out of 5 stars
Another lost to Europe, April 20, 2007
This review is from: Barrelhouse Piano Blue (Audio CD)
Dupree is a barrelhouse pianist par excellent - thick chords in a pounding rhythm, ornamentation in the right hand adding depth to the basic chording of the style. Add a straightfoward vocals of a unsophisticated style. What do you get? Not a run-of-the-mill traditional barrelhouse blues - a superb stylist who knows exactly how to squeeze every bit of emotion and art possible out of the genre. So naturally, he ends up in Europe from 1959 until his death. Despite recording with the (now) better known Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry and Little Willie John, he found greater acceptance and recognition in Europe. Just give "Cabbage Greens No. 1" a listen - think of a contemporary performer, say Marcia Ball, and try to tell me that Dupree isn't an early master of a living tradition.
There is nothing particularly special about this collection - others showcase him as well. But if you have any interest in barrelhouse blues you MUST have some Champion Jack Dupree in your collection - preferable an anthology like this recorded primarily in the 1940's.
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