Collection of 35 vernacular photographs of the Cecil Young Quartet, including three with Sarah Vaughan, circa 1951

N.p. N.p., Circa 1951. Collection of 35 small format vernacular photographs of members of the Cecil Young Quartet, including three of Sarah Vaughan, circa 1951.

Thirty-one photographs show Young and bandmates Gerald Brashear, Jimmie Rodgers, and Traff Hubert, one photograph shows Young, Rodgers, and Hubert backstage, and three photographs show Vaughan, likely backstage at the Birdland Jazz Club, where the quartet opened for Vaughan in 1951.

"The swingin'est Bop I've ever heard" is how Nat King Cole described the Cecil Young Quartet, who exploded onto the Seattle jazz scene in 1950. Young formed the quartet in 1950 alongside tenor saxophonist and bongo player Gerald Brashear, drummer Jimmie Rodgers, and bassist Traff Hubert. Recordings of the quartet's 1951 gigs at the Metropolitan Theatre and the Ladies Music Club got the attention of King Records' Sid Nathan, who quickly signed the act and released their 1951 debut album "A Concert of Cool Jazz." The album did well throughout the Seattle area, garnering attention throughout the west coast, with San Francisco jazz critic Ralph Gleason declaring Brashear's solo on "Who Parked the Car," the best scat solo ever recorded. A subsequent US tour was planned but when the band arrived at Birdland to open for Sarah Vaughn, it proved to be their last show. Disappointed by the lack of recognition by the audience, coupled with flagging sales, as well as struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, the quartet disbanded soon thereafter.

3.5 x 3.5 inches. Near Fine.

[Book #155677]