Ike Quebec

American jazz tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec had a distinctive broad tone and a versatile technique that enabled him to perform a variety of different genres. Also a talented pianist, he decided to focus on the saxophone in his early 20s, and began his career with Count Basie's band, The Barons of Rhythm, in 1940. Between 1940 and the early 1950s, he performed with artists such as Frankie Newton, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald and Coleman Hawkins. During this time he was often part of Cab Calloway's band.

In the early 1950s, Quebec made fewer appearances as the big band era waned, and he himself struggled with drug addiction, but in 1959, he made a comeback and revived his career with several album releases both as lead player and sideman. As leader, he recorded 'From Hackensack to Englewood Cliffs' in 1959, although this was not released until 2000. Eight of the tracks from this CD were also included in the two-CD set 'The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions', recorded between 1959 and 1962, and released in 2005. During his lifetime Quebec saw the release of 'Heavy Soul' (1962), 'Easy Living' (1962), 'Blue & Sentimental' (1963) and 'Soul Samba' (1963). Following his death from lung cancer in 1963, further albums were released including 'It Might As Well Be Spring' (1964), 'With a Song in My Heart' (1981), 'Congo Lament' (1981) and 'The Art of Ike Quebec' (1992).