Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions [BOX SET]

Ike Quebec

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 1, 1959
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000B66PS4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #163,752 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Ike Quebec was one of the great tenor saxophonists to emerge from the swing era with a sound and drive that came straight from the early giants of the horn, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster. Like Webster, he had a multi-hued sound, with a thousand gradations from honk to gruff aside to breathy sweetness. A featured soloist with Cab Calloway before slipping into obscurity, Quebec renewed an association with Blue Note in 1959, recording extensively with the label until his death in 1963. His singles are elemental music, much like those of Gene Ammons, and they show Quebec in all his glory, bouncing and wailing on jump tunes like "Zonky," "Mardi Gras" and "Me 'n' Mabe." But his finest moments came on soulful ballads and slow blues, songs like "Blue Monday" and "Everything Happens to Me," when he could embrace a melody with all the dimensions of his sound. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tenor Sax Master, October 20, 2005

By	political idiot (california) - See all my reviews

Ike Quebec was a surperb musician who has been almost totally ignored by many music historians. Trained as an orchestral musician as well as a featured soloist, he found himself less in demand as the big-band era began to fade. In 1959 Alfred Lion knew Quebec was something special and produced these fabulous Blue Note singles during what is considered his comeback years from 1959-1962. Quebec cut four 45 RPM dates over a two or so year period. Most of the consistantly great 26 selections here offer the big, vibrant tone, bluesy phrasing, and magnificent heart felt solos Quebec is known for by his fans. Great set.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic & Finally Affordable!!, October 24, 2005

By	JPN (Amherst, MA United States) - See all my reviews

These great recordings have only been previously available on a long out-of-print Mosaic Records set that commanded stratospheric prices. Now, Blue Note has reissued them in a nice package with fantastic sound. Accessible, soulful and thoroughly enjoyable. Grab it while you can!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Epitath for a giant?, October 31, 2006

By	Dr.D.Treharne (Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In his excellent sleeve notes Bob Porter from WBGO says, "If you are coming to these sides for the first time, you are in for a treat". I was. They are! The disks have Quebec playing with an ever changing array of sidesmen, with prominent organ playing from Edwin Swanston (Tracks 1 to 8), Sir Charles Thompson (Disk 1 9-13 Disk 2 1-4) and Earl Van Dyke (the Motown EVD?)[Disk 2 5-13).The Sir Charles tracks are a basic quartet whereas on the other tracks there is the addition of a guitarist. Whatever the style or genre that the compositions embrace Quebec stamps an authority on them all, but always allows space for (particularly the organ players) to solo. Nor, as the strictures of the sessions might have suggested, are they in any way formulaic, they are played as the sleevenotes suggest 'with creativity and conviction'. Despite the price this would seem like a good place to start to listen to Quebec, still undiminished in his playing despite health problems that were obviously starting to beset him. I'm only amazed that the sessions are still current in the Blue Note catalogue and having been unavailable for so long ought to be snapped up before they disappear.