Ben Webster Albums (40)
'Live at Ronnie Scott's 1964: The Punch'
Release Date 2/1/2005
Tracks 13
Label Storyville
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What The Critics Say
The great tenor-saxophonist Ben Webster did not come to Europe for the first time until December, 1964, and he liked it so much that in his last nine years he never returned to the United States. This previously unreleased set, Live at Ronnie Scott's 1964: The Punch, are recordings of some of Webster's first club performances in Europe, and they find him at his most dynamic and exciting. Surprisingly, a couple of the songs ("Confirmation" and "A Night in Tunisia") are bebop classics, but soon Webster would shrink his repertoire down to his 20 or so favorite swing standards. Joined by an inspired rhythm section led by pianist Stan Tracey, Webster is heard throughout in top-form, pushing himself and clearly doing his best to make a strong impression. He plays beautifully on the ballads (including "Stardust") and roars on the faster material, making this an important set both historically and musically -- one well-worth picking up. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ben Webster had a perfect tone for playing ballads, full of sentiment and emotion. On this Storyville release he caresses seven timeless melodies in a variety of settings including trios with either Teddy Wilson, Ole Kock Hansen or Kenny Drew on piano, backing by The Danish Radio Big Band (on "Cry Me a River") or a version of "Greensleeves" with a string orchestra. Although largely forgotten in the United States (he had moved to Europe in 1965), Ben Webster was still in fine form this late in his career. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Complete 1953 Leader Studio Sessions'
Release Date 11/25/2003
Tracks 15
Label Import
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What The Critics Say
One has to wonder if Ben Webster ever led a bad session, or hell, even played on one. Webster, while recognized by jazz aficionados as a master improviser and technician, is hardly a household name, despite the fact that of all the Ellington tenor alumni, he was the most consistent in his output as a leader. As for this volume, the licenses on this material are all held by Verve and Mercury despite the fact that the first of these, under the moniker Ben Webster and "His Orchestra," was issued on the Norgran label in December of 1953. The band on these six selections -- all standards, including "Pennies From Heaven," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" -- included Harry "Sweets" Edison, Benny Carter in the alto chair, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, and Oscar Peterson, in an uncharacteristically spare and tasteful performance. The second recording date, which was issued on the Clef label seven months prior to the first, included Ellington's "Cotton Tail," and Webster's own "Poutin'," and was played by a quintet that included Barney Kessel and J.C. Heard. This is Webster at his hard yet smooth swinging best. Heard's pulse is so bright and airy it's infectious. The last session here was the first one recorded, in January of 1953, in typical -- and confounding -- Jazz Factory fashion: the entire disc is presented in reverse order. Webster is showcased in an orchestra setting, of which he was co-leader with Johnny Richards. But it is his interactions with the stellar rhythm section of Billy Taylor, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Jo Jones on Richards' "Hoot," and "Iron Man," that are so remarkable. This is essential Webster, full on and in full possession of the powers that made him such a singular and necessary talent. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'At At Montmartre 1965-1966'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 12
Label Storyville
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What The Critics Say
The great tenor Ben Webster moved permanently to Europe in December 1964, where he worked steadily during his last eight years. The music on this CD was previously unreleased and is drawn from two live sessions at the Montmartre in Copenhagen. The first nine selections are the earliest examples of Webster during his European years, while the final three are from 16 months later. Webster was quite consistent throughout his career, and during his later years he simply played a variety of his favorite standards, usually with a quartet. The bulk of this set has Webster joined by pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen, and drummer Alex Riel, while the final numbers are with Pedersen, pianist Atli Bjørn, and drummer Rune Carlsson. The tenor is in top form, showing off his gorgeous tone on the ballads and romping on the hotter material. Highlights include "Pennies from Heaven," "My Romance," "In a Mellow Tone," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and two versions of "Cottontail." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The performances on this live set (recorded in Switzerland) were not initially released until 2001. Pianist Teddy Wilson and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster had played together on and off for decades, including in Wilson's 1939 big band. The first six selections on this CD are actually by Wilson's trio (with bassist Isla Eckinger and drummer Peter Giger) and are fairly typical of Wilson's work during his last 30 years. He runs for the umpteenth time through such songs as "Don't Be That Way," "Honeysuckle Rose," and "Flying Home." But when Webster makes the group a quartet on the final five numbers, some sparks fly as he digs into "In a Mellotone," "Stardust," "Ben's Blues," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and "Sunday." Although not classic or essential, this music is certainly enjoyable and shows that Ben Webster still had a lot of life left in his playing this late in his career. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
If you were to look through the jazz libraries of major radio stations in Europe, you would find a lot of high-quality live performances that have never been released commercially. But thankfully, some of those recordings eventually end up coming out on small European jazz labels. A perfect example is Wayfaring Webster, which boasts a Ben Webster set that went unreleased for 30 years. The concert was recorded live in the Netherlands on September 2, 1970, and that recording was played on Dutch radio the following month -- however, it wasn't until late 2000 that the performances became commercially available thanks to Challenge's Daybreak label. Backed by pianist Cees Slinger, bassist Rob Langereis, and drummer John Engels, a 61-year-old Webster is in excellent form during a concert that includes warm, swinging performances of "Sunday," Juan Tizol's "Perdido," and the dusky "Poutin'." As gritty and funky as he was on up-tempo material and 12-bar blues items, he could be quite sentimental on ballads -- and true to form, his ballad playing is as soulful and expressive as ever on "My Romance," "How Long Has This Been Going On," and Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge." This concert doesn't offer many surprises; at 61, the breathy tenor man had nothing left to prove and excelled by sticking with what had worked so well for him in his younger days. Although it falls short of essential, Wayfaring Webster is a fine CD that Webster's serious fans will appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Masters of Jazz, Vol. 5'
Release Date 10/1/1999
Tracks 8
Label Storyville
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What The Critics Say
This entry in Storyville's Masters of Jazz series (which does not duplicate his Plays Duke Ellington and Plays Ballads albums) alternates ballads and stomps to give listeners a well-rounded picture of Ben Webster during his last period. Webster is joined by trios led by pianists Kenny Drew and Teddy Wilson, interacts with a drumless piano-bass duo, plays with a Scandinavian quartet, romps with The Danish Radio Big Band on two numbers and is accompanied on "Going Home" and "Come Sunday" by a string orchestra. These Copenhagen recordings find the great tenor in consistently fine form. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
