Ike Quebec - Bossa Nova Soul Samba (1962)

With his thick, engaging sound and elegant romanticism, it only made sense for Ike Quebec to try his hand at the bossa nova boom Stan Getz kick-started in 1962, and that's what he did with Soul Samba. However, Quebec makes the session much more than mere bandwagon-jumping. He takes some chances with the repertoire and consciously adds a heavy blues inflection that makes Soul Samba one of the more unique interpretations of the bossa nova style. It's also one of the more sensuous, thanks in part to the combination of Quebec's natural tendencies and the soft, light style itself, but even more so with the extra bit of meat added via the blues. The music is warm and danceable, yet with a late-evening hush that's more suggestive of winding down and getting cozy with someone. Quebec's choices of material are never obvious -- the Brazilian selections do not include any Jobim standards, for one thing, and both Quebec and guitarist Kenny Burrell (absolutely stellar in support) contribute original material that ranks among the album's best performances (particularly Quebec's "Blue Samba" and Burrell's "Loie"). What's more, Quebec adapts some unlikely sources -- the traditional standard "Liebestraum" and the Dvorak theme "Goin' Home" -- into surprisingly effective samba pieces. The whole project is thoughtfully conceived and beautifully executed, treating bossa nova as a new means of personal expression, not just a fad to be cashed in on. Sadly, Soul Samba was Quebec's final album, but at least his career ended on a high note. Review by Steve Huey

http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-samba-mw0000073875

Bennie Green Mosaic Select Complete Blue Note Recordings 1958 - 1962

Trombonist Bennie Green's Blue Note albums were almost completely overlooked until this Mosaic Select compilation appeared in 2003. The first session, originally issued as Back on the Scene, features Charlie Rouse joining Green in the front line. Green's up-tempo "Bennie Plays the Blues" is the best blowing vehicle, while he and Rouse both contribute lyrical solos in Melba Liston's "Melba's Mood." Pianist Gildo Mahones wrote three of the six tracks recorded for Walkin' & Talkin', with Eddy Williams taking Rouse's place. The overall session isn't up to Green's Blue Note debut, but his snappy blues "Walkin' and Talkin'" contains some of his hottest playing within this boxed set. Williams is also on hand for the ten selections first released in Japan as The 45 Sessions with pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jerry Segal. The solos are consistently hot and the quintet never wraps things in a perfunctory manner as one would expect with recordings made for jukeboxes. All of the instrumentals rate high praise, especially the loping "On the Street Where You Live" and the leader's "Ain't Nothin' But the Blues." The addition of singer Babs Gonzales on the last three cuts mar some otherwise excellent performances. Tenor saxophonists Gene Ammons and Billy Root are on hand for the session which produced Soul Stirrin'. While the material on this date is uneven, Green's interpretation of "That's All" is very satisfying. Unfortunately, Gonzales appears for two more numbers. The last five songs come from a date led by tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec (eventually issued as Congo Lament), adding Stanley Turrentine, Milt Hinton, and Art Blakey to join Green and Clark. Green's exotic "Congo Lament" and Turrentine's upbeat "Cue's Pill" are impressive.
Review: Ken Dryden
http://www.allmusic.com/album/mosaic-select-bennie-green-r641454 

Disc One

1. I Love You (A)  6:02 (Cole Porter)

2. Melba’s Mood (A)  5:33 (Melba Liston)

3. Just Friends (A)  6:59 (S. Lewis-J. Klenner)

4. You’re Mine You (A)  5:15 (J. Green-E. Heyman)

5. Bennie Plays The Blues (A)  8:24 (Bennie Green)

6. Green Street (A)  5:08 (Melba Liston)

7. The Shouter (D)  4:57 (Gildo Mahones)

8. Green Leaves (D)  5:43 (Gildo Mahones)

9. This Love Of Mine (D)  6:45 (Parker-Sanicola-Sinatra)

10. Walkin’ And Talkin’ (D)  8:57 (Bennie Green)

11. All I Do Is Dream Of You (D)  5:32 (A. Freed-N.H. Brown)

12. Hoppin’ Johns (D)  5:29 (Gildo Mahones)

Disc Two

1. It’s Groovy (C)  3:41 (unknown)

2. On The Street Where You Live (C)  5:50 (A. Lerner-F. Loewe)

3. Can’t We Be Friends (C)  5:32 (P.James-K.Swift)

4. Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues (C)  5:13 (Bennie Green)

5. Bye Bye Blackbird (C)  5:24 (R. Henderson-M. Dixon)

6. Minor Revelation (C)  5:17 (Harold Ousley)

7. Why Do I Love You (C)  5:58 (J. Kern-O. Hammerstein)

8. Encore (stereo LP take) (C)  4:16 (Babs Gonzales)

9. Encore (mono 45 take) (C)  4:29 (Babs Gonzales)

10. Soul Stirrin' (mono take) (B)  6:44 (Babs Gonzales)

Disc Three

1. Soul Stirrin’ (B)  6:49 (Babs Gonzales)

2. We Wanna Cook (B)  6:38 (Bennie Green)

3. That’s All (B)  6:25 (B. Haymes-A. Brandt)

4. Lullaby Of The Doomed (B)  6:00 (Babs Gonzales)

5. B.G. Mambo (B)  8:15 (Bennie Green)

6. Black Pearl (B)  5:45 (Billy Graham)

7. See See Rider (E)  8:59 (Ma Rainey)

8. Congo Lament (E)  6:50 (Bennie Green)

9. Que's Pill (E)  5:37 (Stanley Turrrentine)

10. B.G.'s Groove Two (E)  6:12 (Bennie Green)

11. I. Q. Shuffle (E)  9:43  (Ike Quebec)

Bennie Green, Charlie Rouse, Gildo Mahones, Eddie Williams, Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers, Jerry Segal, Babs Gonzales, Gene Ammons, Billy Root, Ike Quebec, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Hinton, Art Blakey.

Ike Quebec The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions

During his comeback years (1959-62) after a decade mostly off the scene, tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec recorded frequently for Blue Note. He started off with a session aimed at the 45 jukebox market and, although he eventually made a few full-length albums for the label, Quebec cut four 45 dates over a two-and-a-half-year period. This double-disc set has all of the jukebox sessions. Most of the 26 selections clock in between four and seven minutes and have long melody statements in addition to concise and soulful solos. Quebec, who was in consistently prime form during his last period, is joined by groups featuring either Skeeter Best or Willie Jones on guitar and Edwin Swanston, Sir Charles Thompson, or Earl Van Dyke on organ. Fun, loose and highly enjoyable music. 

Review by Scott Yanow

http://www.allmusic.com/album/complete-blue-note-45-sessions-r145969