Critic Alex Henderson writes, "Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to came to down-home blues, sexy ballads, and up-tempo aggression."
An accomplished dancer and pianist, he switched to tenor sax as his primary instrument in his early 20s, and quickly earned a reputation as a promising player. His recording career started in 1940, with the Barons of Rhythm.
Later on, he recorded or performed with Frankie Newton, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, Trummy Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins. Between 1944 and 1951, he worked intermittently with Cab Calloway. He recorded for Blue Note records in this era, and also served as a talent scout for the label (helping pianists Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell come to wider attention) and, due to his exceptional sight reading skills, was an uncredited impromptu arranger for many Blue Note sessions.
Due in part to struggles with drug addiction (but also due to the fading popularity of big band music), Quebec recorded only sporadically during the 1950s, though he still performed regularly. He kept abreast on new developments in jazz, and his later playing incorportated elements of hard bop and soul jazz.
In 1959 he began a what amounted to a comeback with a series of albums on the Blue Note label. Blue Note executive Alfred Lion was always fond of Quebec's music, but was unsure how audiences would respond to the saxophonist after a decade of low visibility. In the mid-to-late 1950s, Blue Note issued a series of Quebec singles for the juke box market; audinences responded well, leading to a number of warmly-received albums.
Quebec's comeback was cut short by his death from lung cancer.
Influenced by Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster but definitely his own person, Ike Quebec was one of the finest swing-oriented tenor saxman of the 1940s and '50s. Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to came to down-home blues, sexy ballads, and up-tempo aggression. Originally a pianist, Quebec switched to tenor in the early '40s and showed that he had made the right decision on excellent 78s for Blue Note and Savoy (including his hit "Blue Harlem"). As a sideman, he worked with Benny Carter, Kenny Clarke, Roy Eldridge, and Cab Calloway. In the late '40s, the saxman did a bit of freelancing behind the scenes as a Blue Note A&R man and brought Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell to the label. Drug problems kept Quebec from recording for most of the 1950s, but he made a triumphant comeback in the early '60s and was once again recording for Blue Note and doing freelance A&R for the company. Quebec was playing as authoritatively as ever well into 1962, giving no indication that he was suffering from lung cancer, which claimed his life at the age of 44 in 1963. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
Sweet And Lovely
Ike Quebec Lyrics
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Sweet and lovely heaven must have sent her my way
Skies above me never were as blue as her eyes
And she loves me, who would want a sweeter surprise
When she nestles in my arms so tenderly
There's a thrill that words cannot express
In my heart a song of love is taunting me, melody, haunting me
And she loves me, there is nothing more I can say
Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May
Sweet and lovely heaven must have sent her my way
Skies above me never were as blue as her eyes
And she loves me, who would want a sweeter surprise
When she nestles in my arms so tenderly
There's a thrill that words cannot express
In my heart a song of love is taunting me, melody, haunting me
Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May
And she loves me, there is nothing more I can say
The lyrics to Ike Quebec's song Sweet and Lovely describe the feeling of being in love with someone so sweet and wonderful that it seems like they must have been sent from heaven. The first stanza sets the scene with the imagery of sweet roses in May and blue skies that don't compare to the blue of the love interest's eyes. The second stanza expresses the emotion of being in the love interest's arms and feeling a thrill that can't be put into words. The melody of the song itself is described as haunting, which could be interpreted as a beautiful and unforgettable tune that lingers in the mind.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a perfect love that is sweet, tender, and all-consuming. The singer is so enamored with their love interest that they can't help but sing about their adoration and gratitude for having them in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May
This person is describing their loved one as sweet and lovely, even sweeter than the roses of May.
Sweet and lovely heaven must have sent her my way
The singer feels like their loved one was a gift from heaven.
Skies above me never were as blue as her eyes
The lover is admiring the blue eyes of their beloved, saying they are even more beautiful than the skies above.
And she loves me, who would want a sweeter surprise
The lover is grateful for their beloved's love and feels it is the sweetest surprise they could ever receive.
When she nestles in my arms so tenderly
The lover explains their joy when their beloved cuddles up to them gently in their arms.
There's a thrill that words cannot express
The singer is at a loss for words in explaining the overwhelming joy and excitement they feel when cuddling with their loved one.
In my heart a song of love is taunting me, melody, haunting me
The lover feels as though their heart is singing a love song that they cannot shake off, even when they try.
And she loves me, there is nothing more I can say
The artist is lost for words, as they feel that their beloved's love is the greatest thing they could have in their life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., HARRY TOBIAS MUSIC COMPANY, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: CHARLES N. DANIELS, GUS ARNHEIM, HARRY TOBIAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind