Ike Quebec: Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Tone Poet Vinyl) (180g) (LP)

In October 1962, just as bossa nova fever was beginning to sweep the United States, tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec put his own unique spin on the new style from Brazil on his album *Bossa Nova Soul Samba*. His sensual tone infused the airy Brazilian atmosphere with a soulful touch of blues, creating a melodic masterpiece to which guitarist Kenny Burrell also contributed significantly. In doing so, Quebec skillfully avoided the bossa nova hits by Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, and Luiz Bonfá. Instead, he assembled a sublime repertoire of his own compositions, lesser-known Brazilian pieces, and two classical compositions by Antonín Dvořák and Franz Liszt. It was all the more tragic that this was to be his final album: just three months later, Quebec died of lung cancer at the age of 44. The exceptionally sensitive musicianship is provided by Ike Quebec on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Wendell Marshall on bass, Willie Bobo on drums, and Garvin Masseaux, who plays and shakes the chekere—an instrument less commonly associated with jazz. Blue Note Tone Poet Edition: Stereo, produced by Joe Harley, fully remastered in analog by Kevin Gray from the original tapes, RTI pressing (180g), sturdy tip-on gatefold sleeve, padded inner sleeve