Ike Quebec - Blue & Sentimental (1962/2011/2013) [DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC]

Ike Quebec's timeless, big-toned tenor was a frequent visitor to Rudy Van Gelder's studio in the early sixties. But this album from December 1961 with spare, soulful backing from Grant Green, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones is his masterpiece. The leaner setting works perfectly, evoking an aura of relaxation and monumentality, with the deepest blue of accents.

Ike Quebec's 1961-1962 comeback albums for Blue Note were all pretty rewarding, but Blue and Sentimental is his signature statement of the bunch, a superbly sensuous blend of lusty blues swagger and achingly romantic ballads. True, there's no shortage of that on Quebec's other Blue Note dates, but Blue and Sentimental is the most exquisitely perfected. Quebec was a master of mood and atmosphere, and the well-paced program here sustains his smoky, late-night magic with the greatest consistency of tone. Part of the reason is that Quebec's caressing tenor sound is given a sparer backing than usual, with no pianist among the quartet of guitarist Grant Green, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. It's no surprise that Green solos with tremendous taste and elegance (the two also teamed up on Green's similarly excellent Born to Be Blue), and there are plenty of open spaces in the ensemble for Quebec to shine through. His rendition of the Count Basie-associated title cut is a classic, and the other standard on the original LP, "Don't Take Your Love from Me," is in a similarly melancholy vein. Green contributes a classic-style blues in "Blues for Charlie," and Quebec's two originals, "Minor Impulse" and "Like," have more complex chord changes but swing low and easy. Through it all, Quebec remains the quintessential seducer, striking just the right balance between sophistication and earthiness, confidence and vulnerability, joy and longing. It's enough to make Blue and Sentimental a quiet, sorely underrated masterpiece.

Tracklist:

01 - Blue And Sentimental
02 - Minor Impulse
03 - Don't Take Your Love From Me
04 - Blues For Charlie
05 - Like
06 - Count Every Star
07 - That Old Black Magic
08 - It's All Right With Me

Produced by Alfred Lion. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Recorded on December 16 (Track "8" on Dec. 23), 1961 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood, NJ.
Mastered from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray.
(C) Blue Note/Analogue Productions.

Musicians:
Ike Quebec - tenor sax, piano (except "8")
Grant Green - guitar
Paul Chambers - bass
"Philly" Joe Jones - drums
Sonny Clark - piano on "8"
Sam Jones - bass on "8"
Louis Hayes - drums on "8"


Thanks to the Original customer!