⬇️ BIG AL DUPREE ⬇️
(2CD)
Piano and saxophone player Big Al Dupree, a mainstay on the Dallas music scene
for over 60 years, made his first appearance in the Twin Cities in March. At
73 he is still playing piano with a vitality that shows no signs of slowing
down. His deep resonate voice was very easy to listen to and his superb and
versatile piano playing offered an outstanding change of pace (and change of
instruments) in this blues series.
Dupree started playing piano and saxophone in his early teens during the
1930's and studied music when he went to college at the age of 16 in New
Orleans. He toured with T. Bone Walker and Pee Wee Crayton during the
1940's playing saxophone and has played in piano lounges and supper clubs
around the Dallas area since the 1950's. He said he preferred the steady
paying work closer to home than the tough times on the road. He only
recently recorded his first album Big Al Dupree Swings the Blues.
Regarding his experience with T. Bone Walker he said "we all enjoyed
playing with T. Bone because he was so versatile. He could play blues and
then turn around and play some complex jazz progressions. A true
professional on stage and a pleasure to play with." His experience with
Pee Wee Crayton was another story. He said Pee Wee was a little
irresponsible and couldn't read maps too well. On one trip they missed the
first two performances because Pee Wee misjudged the distances and barely
made the third. That was enough for Big Al to say "no thanks" to future
road tours.
During the show Dupree explained the difference between what he defines as
blues songs and other types of music that didn't fit his definition of
what blues were. He then went on to demonstrate what he was talking about
with some entertaining musical examples. He said the blues depicts
longing, loneliness, despair and anxiety (I think some would take issue
with this narrow definition). But boy could you feel those emotions in his
piano playing.
Dupree plays outstanding piano in a variety of styles from hot jazz, to
boogie woogie, to slower blues numbers. Listening to him play the piano
elicits certain moods, certain feelings. On some of his melancholy blues
numbers you could almost imagine you were sitting around the piano in a
dim lit, smoke filled lounge listening to the piano player as you drowned
your sorrows in a glass of whiskey. Or, you found your foot tapping to an
up-tempo boogie woogie that Dupree delivered in flawless fashion. Dupree
seems more comfortable playing jazz, ballads or songs with a more positive
or up-beat message which seem to fit his personality better. This was
excellent piano playing by a superb musician and a nice gentleman.