Paul Quinichette doesn't get much ink in the jazz world these days. The reason is largely because the tenor saxophonist sounded very much like Lester "Pres" Young. So much so that he was nicknamed "Vice Pres." As a result, he's now viewed merely as a clone. Why bother with a sound-alike when you can listen to Pres himself, right?
Not so fast. A new two-CD box from Fresh Sounds with terrific liner notes will remove that stigma from Quinichette. The set—The Vice Pres: Paul Quinichette, Legendary Sessions 1951-1954—is a feast for the ears, featuring the saxophonist Young fondly called Lady Q. Throughout this new leadership set, Quinichette is backed by incredible sidemen.
Quinichette was born in Denver in 1916 and started on clarinet before switching to tenor saxophone. He graduated from Denver University with a music degree and toured regionally before cutting his teeth in the mid-to-late 1940s with two major jump-blues bands—the Johnny Otis Orchestra in Los Angeles and Louis Jordan's band in New York. [Photo above of Paul Quinichette]
In 1951, Quinichette joined Count Basie, who had just assembled a big band after leading a combo without much commercial success. That same year, Quinichette began recording as a leader for the newly formed EmArcy label, a jazz offshoot of Mercury.
Unclear is whether Quinichette set out to model his style after Young's airborne approach or he inched closer to it to remain in demand by record labels and on the radar of leading jazz critics. While many tenor saxophonists adapted Young's sound—Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and Dave Pell to name a handful—Quinichette was much closer to sounding like Young, right down to the light, fluid playing style and swinging improvisational skills.
This new box covers a special period for Quinichette. His sound and control were remarkable, and a careful ear can tell him apart from Young. Quinichette tended to cling to the melody a bit more and featured his jump-blues bounce while Young was a swing player and filled all available space.
The new box is exceptional. Quinichette's sound is soft and caressing, and keeps your foot tapping. You never feel you are listening to Young, just a different saxophonist with a Youngian blowing approach.
Paul Quinichette died in 1983 at age 67.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find The Vice Pres: Paul Quinichette, Legendary Sessions 1951-1954 (Fresh Sound) here.
Discount. Be sure to take advantage of your JazzWax 8% discount. Simply enter the code JAZZWAX_DISCOUNT in the space provided on the Fresh Sound payment page.
JazzWax clips: Here's Paul Quinichette's Bustin' Suds in 1952, with mostly a Count Basie crew: Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Marshal Royal and Ernie Wilkins (as), Paul Quinichette (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Bobby Tucker (p), Freddie Green (g), Jimmy Lewis (b) and Gus Johnson (d). Wow, Quinichette actually originated the bridge of Corner Pocket that Freddie Green then picked up and turned into the song...
Here's Birdland Jump in 1952, with Paul Quinichette (ts), Kenny Drew (p), Freddie Green (g), Gene Ramey (b) and Gus Johnson (d)...
Here's I Can't Give You Anything But Love in 1954, with Paul Quinichette (ts), Jimmy Golden (p), Skeeter Best (g), Jimmy Richardson (b) and Les Erskine (d)...
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
And here's Shorty George in 1954, with Paul Quinichette (ts), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Jerome Darr (g), Paul Chambers (b) and Harold Wing (d)...
Bonus: Here Paul Quinichette in 1958 playing One O'Clock Jump, with Buck Clayton, Carl Severinsen and Carl Pool (tp); Benny Morton and Jimmy Cleveland (tb); Tony Scott, Sid Cooper, Ben Webster and Paul Quinichette (reeds); Billy Taylor (p), Eddie Safranski (b), Mundell Lowe (g) and Ed Thigpen (d). Solos: Billy Taylor, Paul Quinichette, Benny Morton, Tony Scott, Buck Clayton and Eddie Safranski. One wants to strangle the producer for cutting away from the monster reed section as they all stand to play at the end...
