Champion Jack Dupree
From New Orleans to Chicago/and his Blues Band
BGO Records 649
also available on amazon
This double disc set is a must have in all ways. The New Orleans to Chicago set was done in London in 1966 with a now all-star cast, but then the musicians were largely unknown outside of England; John Mayall on harmonica, Tony McPhee on guitar, Eric Clapton also on guitar, Malcolm Pool on bass, Keef Hartley on drums, and Bill Short on washboard. These sessions where produced by Michael Vernon. It is a session where the spotlight is always on Champion Jack Dupree’s deep growling vocal and his impeccable piano work, but there is plenty of room, as there always is with confident secure musicians, for the rest of the band to step into the light and play. This group shows that talent that was to bring them to the forefront in future while leaving the spotlight on Jack.
Mike Vernon produced “Champion Jack Dupree and his Blues Band” featuring Mickey Baker was recorded about a year later and again. Mickey “Guitar” Baker gave musical direction; he also contributes guitar, vocals on 3 cuts, and
tambourine on three. (If his name sounds familiar he is the Mickey and Sylvia on their huge hit, “Love is Strange.”) The musicians on this recording never established the names of the group on the other session, however that doesn’t diminish their contribution in the least. They are a solid group and we have the added bonus of a horn section on these cuts.
Mickey Baker’s experience and drive push this recording to be one of the best sessions around. Another outstanding job by BGO records to bring forth worthy discs that have been hard to find.