Ike Abrams Quebec (August 17, 1918 –January 16, 1963) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career in the big band era of the 1940s, then fell from prominence for a time until launching a comeback in the years before his death. Critic Alex Henderson wrote, "Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to down-home blues, sexy ballads, and up-tempo aggression."

Biography

Quebec was born in Newark, New Jersey, United States. An accomplished dancer and pianist, he switched to tenor sax as his primary instrument in his early twenties, and quickly earned a reputation as a promising player. His performance career started in 1940, with the Barons of Rhythm. Not to be confused with the Count Basie Orchestra band of the same name, the Barons disbanded in 1941 when the USA entered the war and were never recorded. Quebec later recorded or performed with Frankie Newton, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, Trummy Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins. Between 1944 and 1951, he worked intermittently with Cab Calloway. He began to record for the Blue Note label in the mid-1940s, becoming the label's biggest jukebox star during this time, picking up national hits with 'Blue Harlem' and 'If I Had You'. During this time Quebec also served as a talent scout for Blue Note, helping to bring Dexter Gordon, Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell to wider attention. Due in part to struggles with heroin addiction, for which he served two short sentences at Rikers Island Prison, Quebec recorded only sporadically during the 1950s. However, he still performed regularly and remained abreast of new developments in jazz, with his later playing incorporating elements of hard bop, bossa nova, and soul jazz. In 1959 Quebec mounted a comeback with a series of albums on the Blue Note label. Blue Note executive Alfred Lion was always fond of Quebec's music, but was unsure how audiences would respond to the saxophonist after a decade of low visibility. In the mid-to-late 1950s, Blue Note therefore issued a series of Quebec singles for the juke box market; audiences responded well, leading to a number of warmly-received albums. Quebec occasionally recorded on piano, as on his 1961 Blue & Sentimental album, where he alternated between tenor and piano, playing the latter behind Grant Green's guitar solos. Quebec's comeback was short-lived. He died penniless in January 1963, at the age of 44, from lung cancer. Quebec's legacy was later commemorated by Blue Note, which gifted a commemorative tombstone to Woodland Cemetery (Newark, New Jersey) for Quebec's grave in 1992.

Family

Quebec's cousin Danny Quebec West was an alto saxophonist who, at the age of 17, recorded with Thelonious Monk on his first session for Blue Note in 1947.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

with Cab Calloway And His Orchestra with Sonny Clark with Grant Green with Dodo Greene With Jimmy Smith