“The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions” captures the soulful rebirth of tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec through a stunning collection of recordings made between 1959 and 1962. After first contributing to Blue Note in the 1940s, as both performer and trusted talent scout for Alfred Lion, Quebec returned to the label following years of personal and professional struggle.
The series of 45 RPM singles he recorded for Blue Note quickly reestablished his reputation as one of jazz’s most expressive voices, his tone deep and resonant, effortlessly bridging the worlds of swing, bebop, and soul jazz. Produced by Joe Harley for the Tone Poet Series, this definitive 3LP set compiles all of Quebec’s 45 rpm sessions in their entirety, including signature performances like “A Light Reprieve,” “Blue Monday,” and “What A Difference A Day Makes.”
The music highlights Quebec’s commanding lyricism and emotional depth across a mix of blues, ballads, and groove-driven tunes. Mastered all-analog from the original Rudy Van Gelder tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, the set is presented in a deluxe tip-on trifold jacket with a beautifully illustrated booklet featuring rare Francis Wolff photography and new liner notes by scholar Loren Schoenberg.