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. ~ Thom Jurek