Paul Quinichette - The Vice Pres (2000)

Paul Quinichette was known as "the Vice Pres" because he sounded so similar to Lester Young ("Pres") during the 1950s. Despite that fault (his lack of originality), Quinichette was quite creative and swinging within Young's style and his recordings were consistently rewarding during the era. On this Verve CD reissue, the music of two full Lps (The Vice Pres and Sequel) are reissued plus six previously unheard alternate takes. Quinichette is heard in a a sextet with both pianist Kenny Drew and organist Bill Doggett, jamming in a nonet arranged by Ernie Wilkins, playing with Count Basie, trumpeter Buck Clayton and trombonist Dicky Wells in a septet, heading a sextet with organist Marlowe Morris and playing "Sunday" with a quintet. Most of Quinichette's sidemen are drawn from the Basie bands, both from the 1950s and the '40s. Surprisingly there are only two standards on these dates (the other one is "People Will Say We're In Love"), with most of the jump tunes penned by the Vice Pres himself. A perfectly-done reissue. ~ Scott Yanow