Customer Reviews

Ike Quebec 1944 1946

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Ike Quebec never got the credit he deserved although the critics have always highly regarded him. This CD, part of the French, consistently excellent, CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSICS series is marvelous, swinging, soulful, hauntingly FRESH; you will find it hard to believe that this music was recorded from 1944-1946!Included are his quintet,swingtet,septet, and all star sessions.

My favorite tunes are the ballads where Ike demonstrates he is tenor saxman nonpareil and ALL the cuts where jazz guitar genius, Tiny Grimes is playing his inimitable electric 4-string (1-8;13-16). Thev immortal Buck Clayton plays a glorious trumpet on cuts 13-16.

Four Blue note sessions and one session recorded for Savoy in 1945 make up the content of this album.It contains Quebec's "hit" Blue Harlem, which is as much about Tiny Grimes guitar and Roger Ramirez on piano, as it is about Quebec.Perhaps even better is "Blue turnin'grey over you" which Blue Note didn't release at the time. What is evident listening to this album is that Quebec is a neglected hero.He could blow hard, but when he played slower tunes he could wail, as proved by the September 1944 tracks, which have Oscar Pettiford on bass.If you're hesitating about this, take heed of the quote from the sleevenotes "Ike Quebec was one of the best tenor players who ever lived. It doesn't matter whether you want to cite 78's from the 40's or LP's from the 60's" Yes, I too think he was that good