Paul Quinichette was known throughout his career as the "Vice Prez" because he sounded so similar to
Lester Young. While most of
Young's other followers emulated his '30s style,
Quinichette sounded like
Lester Young of the then-present day (the 1950s). After getting experience with Nat Towles, Lloyd Sherock, and
Ernie Fields,
Quinichette was featured with
Jay McShann during 1942-1944. He played on the West Coast with
Johnny Otis (1945-1947), traveled to New York with
Louis Jordan, and performed with
Lucky Millinder (1948-1949),
Red Allen, and
Hot Lips Page.
Quinichette was with
Count Basie during 1952-1953 (when
Basie had re-formed his orchestra), worked with
Benny Goodman in 1955, recorded with
Billie Holiday, and held his own on a session with
John Coltrane. Otherwise,
Quinichette mostly led his own group in the 1950s, recording several excellent (if obviously derivative) records. He left music in the late '50s to become an electrical engineer, returning to jazz briefly in the early to mid-'70s, playing with
Sammy Price,
Brooks Kerr, and
Buddy Tate before being forced to retire due to bad health. ~ Scott Yanow