Artist: Ben Webster

The soul of Ben Webster, 2009-10-27
A CD that features Ben Webster, Harry Edison and Johnny Hodges has got to be worth a listen, and this is the case here. This CD contains 3 long playing records, so to get all 3 on this double CD is a bargain. The music is superb, mainstream jazz at its best. My suggestion is if this is your type of jazz, buy it.

Artist: Ben Webster

sax and strings, 2010-01-08
Such a lush and almost over the top sound. Not kitsch, but certainly a period piece. A mellow companion to the more Third Stream earnestness of Getz and Sauter's Focus of around same time.

Sax and strings is a bit like piano and vibes, has to be done right or can be tedious. The string quartet arrangements here are superior (Johnny Richards, I forger his original Hispanic name, but he is a name that interests people) This is not strings bought off the peg, but crafted stuff. Webster's sound is excellent. Piano work is very tasteful too.

Only 36 mins long, but if you can get at a competitive price, so worth it. Keep between Focus and Coltrane's Ballads album, and somewhere near Nat King Cole's classic Capitol albums.

Artist: Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson

Artist: Oscar Peterson, Ben Webster

Ben Webster's tenor saxophone is one of the utterly distinctive and inimitable sounds in jazz and in 1959, when this set was recorded, it had reached its full breathy, melting ripeness. It was more than an instrumental tone; it was a voice, with all the variety of nuance that the human voice can command. He applies it here to seven classic American songs, well-known melodies which he explores with the ease and relaxation of long familiarity. Only Sinatra's own version could equal Webster's exposition of "In The Wee Small Hours Of the Morning", while Ray Noble's "The Touch Of Your Lips" was never so well served, either before or since. Most of the pieces are taken either as slow ballads or at an easy, mid-tempo lope, the one exception being "Sunday", which swings out with a will. Oscar Peterson is so celebrated as a virtuoso pianist that his virtues as an accompanist are rarely noticed, but he is one of the most supportive partners any soloist could desire. Along with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, his regular bass-and-drums team of the time, he provides the perfect setting for Webster. Altogether, this is a golden set from a golden era. --Dave Gelly
Caught In The Web., 2010-02-04
A great album to sit back and relax to - if that's what your hoping for. Recorded late in 1959, this is the fourth collaboration between the two legends. The quartet consists of Webster on tenor sax, Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums; all combining to create that smoky club atmosphere. It is Ben Webster's seductive playing that lends it that feeling, the timbre of his sax is incredibly tender and sophisticated. Leisurely making his way through luscious tracks like: When Your Lover Has Gone, and, In The Wee, Small Hours Of The Morning. Not forgetting the rest of the ensemble (or tracks), all of which add to the silkiness that runs through the album.
The album is generally made up of slower pieces, exceptions being: Sunday, and This Cant Be Love. Other songs include: The Touch Of Your Lips, Bye-bye Blackbird, and, How Deep Is The Ocean. So do your ears a favour, indulge in the sonority of Webster's sax.

Artist: Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster

Two real giants, 2008-06-01

Some might say (including historians, musical producers and liner notes writers) that Hawkins was much better than Webster, that only Young could equall his power with his unique approach. Even if this is true, the level at which Hawk and Webster play is so high that I see the meeting of two true giants.

Impecable rhythm section led by great Oscar Peterson always helps at these Verve style encounters and I feel that both tenor plays made the best of it.

Whether it is gentle ballads, blowing the blues or harmonizing in rhythm, this CD should satisfy not only swing and mainstream fans but also modern jazz fans: mainstream by definition leans somewhat towards modern jazz and Hawk and Peterson particularly well blend the best of both worlds (as they did throught their careers; Hawkins even before modern jazz was born).

A classic.

Artist: Ben Webster

Join the Jazz, 2000-09-05
This is the perfect record to start to listen to the Jazz music. Deep ballads, good mancini like swingers, standars... All you need to know about the Jazz by one of the masters of the sax.

Artist: Ben Webster

Rated: Exempt
Artist: Ben Webster, Oscar Peterson

Amazing Webster!, 2008-02-06
This is a joy! Ben Webster surprises in this late stage of his career by playing very well indeed! In fact it looks like this makes Oscar Peterson and NHØP very happy as they are smiling more and more as the concert proceed.
Fine pictures and fine sound , - this must be recommended to all fans of swinging, no-nonsense jazz!

Artist: Art Tatum & Ben Webster

Just wonderful, 2010-03-31
As kenvision says in his review, the combination of Tatum and Webster is terrific, the two set each other off beautifully, with Tatum's florid style exactly complemented by Webster's more restrained approach - his statement of the theme of Night and Day is a miracle of understatement, barely even alluding to the theme yet encapsulating it perfectly. The two lead musicians are given unobtrusive yet excellent accompaniment by Red Callender and Bill Douglass. This is one of my top ten jazz albums and I constantly return to it to enjoy it yet again.

Artist: Ben Webster