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William Thomas Dupree was a promising boxer (so much so that he earned the nickname "Champion") but also played the piano in brothels, and fortunately for the blues, he decided to step out of the ring and dedicate himself, body and soul, to this second activity. In 1940, he began recording his first singles.
But it was in 1958 that he recorded his debut album, this "Blues From The Gutter", an authentic gem that secured Dupree a place in the pantheon of great bluesmen.
The lineup features our man on piano and vocals, the excellent guitarist Larry Dale (refer to Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones for technical details), on alto sax is the jazzman Pete Brown, and the rhythm section also hails from the jazz world, that is, bassist Wendell Marshall and drummer Willie Jones (who, among others, recorded with a certain Thelonious Monk).
Champion, in these ten tracks, showcases (as he often does) a vocalization with intimate intensity second to none, a fiery boogie-woogie piano style, and when required by the piece, more reflective and profound. But what amazes and envelops the listener is the excellent cohesion of intent among the musicians, the sonic blends in the New Orleans style are truly excellent, and the solos are often overwhelming. I particularly highlight Dale's solo in "Bad Blood (Think You Need A Shot)" and the dreamlike opening sax solo that subsequently merges into a fiery intertwining with the guitar in the fantastic "Evil Woman".
Throughout the album, there isn't a single drop in tension. It's also noteworthy how some lyrics, so direct, were a gamble for the era in which they were written (covering topics such as drugs, addicts, and tubercular patients). In short, to cut it short (as is my style), in this record the blues soul doesn't drip but incessantly gushes.
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