The Vice-Pres - Paul Quinichette

 

P. Q. Blues

The Vice-Pres

Paul Quinichette

AmArcy Records MG 36027

1955

From the back cover: Few jazz stars in the 1950s have earned acceptance and acclaim as wide-spread as that accorded to Paul Quinichette. In the two years since he won an award from the Down Beat critics as the new tenor sax star of the year in their 1953 poll, Paul has earned many individual honors. Some of the fans who have learned about him during this time many be unaware that his victory and subsequent fame were a direct result of his memorable association with the Count Basie orchestra, of which he was a member from 1951 until early '53. During that time he earned his reputation as the Vice Pres, which of course means that he was considered the closest in both tone and style to Lester "Pres" Young.

Because of this association of both Pres and Vice Pres with the Basie band, the performances you will hear in this set have an exceptional interest are are perhaps the most definitive samples of Quinichette's work' though they are the product of three different sessions, he is accomplished on all of them by past and present members of the Basie band.

Cross Fire, Sandstone, Prevue and No Time were recorded with Kenny Drew, best known for his work with the Buddy De Franco quintet, at the piano, and Bill Dogged on Hammond organ. The other sidemen were all Basieities: Freddie Greene on guitar, Jimmy Lewis on bass and Gus Johnson on drums.

P.Q. Blues and Bot Bot feature a large combination, consisting entirely of musicians from the Count's ranks with the exception of the pianist. The keyboard assignment here was handled by Bobby Tucker, best known as Billy Eckstine's accompanist for most of the past decade. The other members of this group are Joe Newman, trumpet; Henry Coker, trombone; Marshall Royal, alto saxophone; Charles Fowlkes, baritone sax; Freddy Green, guitar; Al McKibbon, bass and Gus Johnson, drums.

The other six numbers, The Hook, Same, Shad Rose, Paul's Bunion, Crew Cut and I'll Always Be In Love With You, have the Count himself on organ or piano, as well as three of his most famous alumni, Buck Clayton on trumpet; Dickie Wells on trombone and Walter Page on bass. Green and Johnson again complete the rhythm section.

The story behind these sessions goes back to Paul's earliest days in Denver, Colorado, where he was born May 7, 1921. Throughout the late 1930s and early '40s he had been a youthful member of many name bands, among them Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, Shorty Sherlock and Benny Carter. During these years his tastes were subjected to a variety of influences. An early brush with primitive jazz, and later encounters with music and musicians of the swing era, prepared him for his role as a modernist with a steady and powerful beat. As he puts it himself, he learned enough to appreciate that moving an audience means more than just moving feet, even though that is an important part too.

When he joined Basie, replacing Wardell Gray, but actually acting as a kind of delayed action substitution for Lester Young, Paul caught the ear and imagination of the multitude of Basie fans who immediately identified this sound and style and were delighted with both.

This proved to be Quinichette's lucky week, for the same night that he joined the Count, guitarist Freddie Gree recommended him to Mercury recording executive Bob Shad for a Dinah Washington date. At that time, very little was known about him or how he played, but his performance with Dinah led to an individual contract and before long he was recording with a number of groups under his own leadership.

There are superlative musical moments among these performances. The atmosphere frequently resembles that of the celebrated Kansas City Seven and Kansas City Five contingent with which Basie made some of his most unforgettable performances in the late 1930s. The presence of the Hammond organ on a number of the tunes adds still further to the colorful atmosphere.

This album will be equally pleasing to listeners and dancers because of Paul's insistence on the constant beat – in his writing, his playing and in the work of the group. Without a doubt, this is swinging modern jazz at its most inspired, proving beyond a doubt that the Vice Pres is destined for many happy and successful terms in office.

Cross Fire

Sandstone

Prevue

No Time

P.Q. Blues

Bot Bot

The Hook

Samie

Shad Rose

Paul's Bunion

Crew Cut

I'll Always Be In Lover With You