Search - Paul Quinichette :: The Vice Pres

This album's title comes from the fact that Paul Quinichette was known throughout his career as the "Vice Pres," because he sounded so similar to Lester Young. One would think that such a tag, even though it associated Quinichette with one of the greatest tenor sax players of all time, might have irked him, but apparently not. This welcome reissue (which includes six previously unreleased recordings) shows that, while the similarities with Young are obvious, Quinichette was no mere copyist. The numbers here are first-rate swing pieces from the early 1950s that include hepcats such as Count Basie on organ (Quinchette was a key musician in the Basie band of the time) and Kenny Drew on piano. Quinichette's deep but light tone drifts over the tune and shows that here was someone who could turn a slight improvisation to great effect. --Phil Brett