Ike Quebec And John Hardee - The Complete Blue Note Forties Recordings Of Ike Quebec And John Hardee [1990] (3 x CDs)

SUNNDAY JAZZ

IKE QUEBEC & JOHN HARDEE

Ike Quebec And John Hardee - The Complete Blue Note Forties Recordings Of Ike Quebec And John Hardee [1990] (3 x CDs)

This 3CD box set from Mosaic Records, released in 1990, is a deep, smoky dive into the Blue Note vaults, an era when swing was loosening its collar and bebop was just starting to stir. The Complete Blue Note Forties Recordings Of Ike Quebec And John Hardee doesn’t shout, it smolders. And for collectors chasing the soulful, pre-hard bop tenor sound, this one’s a goldmine.

Ike Quebec’s tone is the star here, warm, breathy, and unhurried. His work with the Swingtet and Swing Seven is full of subtle fire, especially on tracks like “Facin’ the Face,” “Basically Blue,” and “Zig Billion.” These aren’t jukebox hits, they’re mood pieces, cut for 78s but built to last. Quebec’s phrasing is bluesy without being blunt, romantic without slipping into syrup. You hear the roots of soul jazz forming in real time.

John Hardee, often overlooked, brings a lighter touch but no less depth. “River Edge Rock” and “Hardee’s Partee” (both master and alternate takes) are tight, swinging affairs with a relaxed confidence. His tone is clean, his lines melodic, and his ensembles, especially the Sextet sides, are crisp and conversational.

The real gems? The alternate takes and unissued masters. These aren’t just filler, they’re windows into the studio process. You hear ideas stretch, solos shift, and arrangements breathe. Quebec’s “Blue Harlem” appears in both 10" and 12" 78 versions, offering subtle contrasts in feel and fidelity. And the inclusion of Tiny Grimes, Denzil Best, and Shadow Wilson across sessions adds rhythmic depth without overpowering the horns.

This isn’t a flashy set, it’s a slow burn. A document of two tenor voices carving out space in a changing jazz landscape. For Blue Note devotees, this box is a bridge between the label’s boogie roots and its hard bop future. For anyone tracing the lineage from swing to soul, this box is essential listening. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 John Hardee Swingtet - Tired 3:15

02 John Hardee Swingtet - Blue Skies 2:51

03 John Hardee Swingtet - Hardee's Party (Master) 3:13

04 John Hardee Swingtet - Hardee's Party (Alternate Take) 3:18

05 John Hardee Swingtet - Idaho (Alternate Take) 3:24

06 John Hardee Swingtet - Idaho (Master) 3:10

07 John Hardee Sextet - What is This Thing Called Love 3:10

08 John Hardee Sextet - Nervous From The Service 2:54

09 John Hardee Sextet - River Edge Rock (Master) 3:07

10 John Hardee Sextet - Sweet and Lovely 3:10

11 John Hardee Sextet - River Edge Rock (Alternate Take) 3:18

12 Tiny Grimes Swingtet - C Jam Blues 2:48

13 Tiny Grimes Swingtet - Flying Home (Part One) 3:05

14 Tiny Grimes Swingtet - Flying Home (Part Two) 2:58

15 Tiny Grimes Swingtet - Tiny's Boogie Woogie (Alternate Take) 3:32

16 Tiny Grimes Swingtet - Tiny's Boogie Woogie (Master) 2:57

CD2

01 Ike Quebec Quintet - Tiny's Exercise (Master) 3:37

02 Ike Quebec Quintet - Tiny's Exercise (Alternate Take) 3:38

03 Ike Quebec Quintet - She's Funny That Way 4:25

04 Ike Quebec Quintet - Indiana  (Alternate Take) 3:54

05 Ike Quebec Quintet - Blue Harlem (10" 78) 4:44

06 Ike Quebec Quintet - Blue Harlem (12" 78) 4:34

07 Ike Quebec Quintet - Indiana (Master) 3:58

08 Ike Quebec Quintet - Blue Turning Grey Over You (Take One) 3:57

09 Ike Quebec Quintet - Blue Turning Grey Over You (Take Two) 3:56

10 Ike Quebec Quintet - Dolores 3:14

11 Ike Quebec Quintet - The Day You Came Along 4:00

12 Ike Quebec Quintet - Sweethearts on Parade (Alternate Take) 2:52

13 Ike Quebec Quintet - Sweethearts on Parade (Master) 2:54

CD3

01 Ike Quebec Swingtet - Hard Tack (Master) 3:02

02 Ike Quebec Swingtet - Hard Tack (Alternate Take) 3:02

03 Ike Quebec Swingtet - If I Had You 3:23

04 Ike Quebec Swingtet - Mad About You 4:14

05 Ike Quebec Swingtet - Facin' The Face (Alternate Take) 3:50

06 Ike Quebec Swingtet - Facin' The Face (Master) 4:09

07 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - I Found A New Baby (Alternate Take) 4:04

08 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - I Found A New Baby (Master) 3:51

09 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - I Surrender Dear (Master) 4:27

10 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - I Surrender Dear (Alternate Take) 4:26

11 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Topsy 3:05

12 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Cup-Mute Clayton 2:48

13 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - The Masquerade is Over (Alternate One) 3:26

14 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - The Masquerade is Over (Master) 2:57

15 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - The Masquerade is Over (Alternate Two) 2:58

16 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Basically Blue 3:02

17 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Someone to Watch Over Me 3:04

18 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Someone to Watch Over Me 3:07

19 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Zig Billion (Alternate Take) 3:04

20 Ike Quebec Swing Seven - Zig Billion (Master) 3:00

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