The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions

Product Description:

Personnel include: Ike Quebec (tenor saxophone); Willie Jones, Skeeter Best (guitar); Earl Van Dyke, Sir Charles Thompson, Edwin Swanston (organ); Milt Hinton, Sam Jones, Sonny Wellesley (double bass); J.C. Heard, Wilbert Hogan, Les Jenkins (drums).

Recording information: 1959 - 1962.

Ike Quebec, a tenor saxophonist who bridged the swing, bop, and post-bop eras, is an often overlooked figure, which is a shame considering the range of his sound and the infallible charm of his execution. Quebec had a fruitful tenure at Blue Note between 1959 and 1963, and all of the sides he recorded for that label are featured on THE COMPLETE BLUE NOTE 45 SESSIONS spread out over two discs and arranged chronologically. Here Quebec tackles both standards and a host of surprisingly solid originals.

A traditionalist of sorts, Quebec has none of the mercurial, experimental style that was creeping into the vocabulary of many saxophonists of the era. Instead, Quebec's playing recalls the smooth, robust sound of Coleman Hawkins, and like his stylistic forebear he excels at both lush, lyrical balladry and up-tempo tunes with plenty of swing. With its fine packaging and even better sound, 45 SESSIONS is a definitive representation of this excellent sax man.