Paul Quinichette

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Paul Quinichette (May 17, 1916 – May 25, 1983)<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was known as the "Vice President" or "Vice Prez" for his emulation of the breathy style of Lester Young, whose nickname was "The President", or simply "Prez". Young called Quinichette "Lady Q".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Quinichette was born in Denver, Colorado.<ref name="Grove">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> He had clarinet and alto saxophone lessons as a child, before switching to tenor saxophone.<ref name="Grove" /> Around the age of 13, he had informal lessons from Lester Young.<ref name="Grove" /> Quinichette attended Denver University, transferred to Tennessee State College, and then returned to Denver University, from which he graduated in music. While in college he played with local bands, and during summer vacations he toured with Nat Towles and the trumpeter Lloyd Hunter.<ref name="Grove" />

Later life and career

Quinichette worked with Shorty Sherock in the late 1930s, and was then with Ernie Fields (1942), and Jay McShann (1942–43).<ref name="Grove" /> He was with Johnny Otis on the West Coast from 1945 to 1947, then went to New York with Louis Jordan in 1947.<ref name="AM">Template:Cite web</ref> In New York he played with various musicians before joining Count Basie in 1951.<ref name="Grove" /> After two years with Basie, and buoyed by the success of his own recordings for EmArcy Records, Quinichette left to form his own band.<ref name="Grove" />

In the mid to late 1950s, Quinichette also accompanied vocalist Dinah Washington on EmArcy recordings, and played with Benny Goodman and Nat Pierce (both 1955), John Coltrane (1957), and Billie Holiday.<ref name="Grove" /> In the following decade, poor health hindered his activities as a musician, and he took work as an electrical engineer.<ref name="Grove" /> Although still restricted, he resumed performing in 1973.<ref name="Grove" />

Quinichette died in New York City on May 25, 1983.<ref name="Grove" />

Playing style

Grove comments that "Quinichette's style displayed a sense of swing unequaled among those musicians who followed Young."<ref name="Grove" /> Writing in 1959, critic John S. Wilson stated that, after leaving Basie, "Quinichette has inclined to a coarseness of tone and ideas and an attack that stems as much from the less palatable side of Illinois Jacquet as it does from Young."<ref name="Wilson">Template:Cite book</ref>

Discography

The Vice Pres (Emarcy 1951–52)
Blow Your Horn (Brunswick, 1953)
Moods (EmArcy, 1954)
The Kid From Denver (Dawn, 1956)
On the Sunny Side (Prestige, 1957)
Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette (Prestige, 1957 [1959]) with John Coltrane
The Chase Is On (Bethlehem, 1957) – with Charlie Rouse
For Basie (Prestige, 1957) - with Shad Collins, Freddie Green, Walter Page, Jo Jones and Nat Pierce
Basie Reunion (Prestige, 1958) - with Buck Clayton, Shad Collins, Jack Washington, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Joe Jones, and Nat Pierce
Like Basie! (United Artists, 1959)
Prevue (Famous Door, 1974)