Dave Duplissey:
Salt & Pepper with Creole Seasoning & Tasty Jazz

Back in the '80s and '90s soundtracks were filled with saxophone solos. You heard them everywhere. On television and in movies and commercials—just everywhere. I remember my mom regularly listened to Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, and Paul Desmond records. I had friends in high school who were fans of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Paul Horn, and so many others. I’m not sure if the sax is as popular as it was, but Dave Duplissey is carrying on with it using all the joy and passion he can muster, which is a lot!

Dave and his friend Larry Turner have created a handful of tunes that scream and cajole and sing like parrots in the tropical trees. There is definitely a throwback feeling to the songs, but what’s wrong with that?

I love the first cut entitled “Not Enough Love in This World Today.” Ain’t it the truth? As I listen, I imagine I am under a shining disco ball with pulsing percussion, guitars, and keyboards and Dave wailing his heart out on sax. It features outstanding vocals by Elaine Foster from the Alan Toousant Band and back up vocals by Zelma Broussard and Mary Honeycutt. These ladies add their womanly vocal ambiance to “Strutting the Big Easy” as well.

Dave’s sax playing is smooth and just plain cheerful. I can hear so much goodwill in his music. Also included are covers of Sade’s “Smooth Operator” and Burt Bachrach’s “The Look of Love.”

The liner notes suggest that this music will create a feeling of wanting to get out on the dance floor—and I cannot deny it. I can easily imagine playing this album outside with loud speakers, while cooking on the barbecue and serving iced cold lemonade at a family reunion.

Regarding the Creole Seasoning in the title, Dave told me that his wife was doing research on Ancestry.com and discovered that Dave’s family left Bordeaux, France in 1777 to avoid the French Revolution! They eventually settled in New Orleans—and his mother is from Paris, France, as well. So Dave’s deep Creole Cajun background is as authentic as you can get, and has deep roots.

You can fill all your saxaphone musical needs with Dave. You can contact him at: saxophobiarecords.wix.com/daveduplissey.