About

Ike Quebec’s final album Bossa Nova Soul Samba put the tenor saxophonist’s unique spin on the bossa nova craze sweeping the jazz world in 1962. Ike’s sensual tone imbues the breezy Brazilian vibe with a soulful dose of the blues to create a mellifluous masterpiece featuring Kenny Burrell on guitar, Wendell Marshall on bass, Willie Bobo on drums, and Garvin Masseaux on chekere. The sublime set weaves together Brazilian tunes, classical themes, and originals by Quebec and Burrell into a seamless tapestry. In a bittersweet twist of fate, Quebec’s artistic resurgence would be cut short just 3 months later when he died of lung cancer at age 44. — (via Label)

—

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. — (via AllMusic)

—

About the Blue Note Tone Poet Series:

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket.

↓
Label: Blue Note
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold, 180 Gram
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 1962
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz

File under: Blue Note Tone Poet
⦿