Ike Quebec

Ike Quebec was something like Ben Webster in his ability to play lush ballads or to scream like a smokestack when the band was cooking. After working for Roy Eldridge and Frankie Newton, Quebec became Cab Calloway's star tenor man in 1944, making everyone sit up and take notice when he wailed over Cab's band in a wonderfully raspy tone utilizing the instrument's extremities for maximum effect. Each of Quebec's sessions as a leader produced staggeringly potent records. J.C. Heard is the drummer on all 20 tracks - check him out on "Indiana" - and for bassists you have Milt Hinton, Grachan Moncur II, or Oscar Pettiford. While Roger Ramirez was an excellent pianist, it is a gas hearing Johnny Guarnieri on the Savoy session. Guest horn players are Buck Clayton, Keg Johnson, Jonah Jones, and Tyree Glenn. Guitarist Tiny Grimes is present on three of these dates…

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD second set release from Ike Quebec, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.
“Blue And Sentimental”; “It Might As Well Be Spring”; “Heavy Soul” and “Bossa Nova Soul Samba”.
Welcome back Ike Quebec! 1945-1961, that’s a long time between releases! So what happened to the great tenor saxophonist? Sadly an all too familiar story of the decline of big band jazz audiences followed by serious drug problems. Ike Quebec had quite an extraordinary split career which either end you look at was remarkable for the jazz men he played with. The early years in the 1940s gets you Hot Lips Page, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge…