Ike Quebec
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.”
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 Orchestraband 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.