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: 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: Ben Webster

A Lovely Album, 2009-12-11
One of the greatest saxophone players, Ben Webster's ballad playing came to its full maturity in the 1950's and this relaxed, late night, album - along with the quartet session with Art Tatum - shows it at its very finest. The string writing by Ralph Burns and Billy Strayhorn is exquisite and provides a perfect backdrop to some of the most beautiful sax playing on record. In addition to this, a lovely quartet session with Teddy Wilson, Ray Brown and Jo Jones is included as are various alternate takes.

As an added bonus, a 'with strings' session by Harry Carney fills out the second disc. The mood is similar, the arrangements are by Ralph Burns, and Ellington's great baritone player's solos are things of joy and wonder.

A lovely album, which has lost none of its freshness in more than half a century, it is beautifully recorded and has been excellently remastered from the original master-tapes. Enjoy!

Artist: Gerry Mulligan, Ben Webster, Ben Webster

There is a tradition in jazz of the "Meet" series, where two musicians, often of differing ages or styles, meet and hopefully produce something fresh and exciting (and the record company hopes, commercially successful, appealing to both sets of fans). Sometimes it works and sometimes it stinks worse than a four-month-old half-eaten egg. So here we have Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster: the king of cool jazz, and a baritone sax player meeting the older swing tenor sax man. The resulting sessions were, thankfully, far from resembling a decaying dairy product and see both men in top form. Mulligan appears to have the greater attraction with Webster playing "cooler" than his norm; but that said Mulligan's compositions are obviously inspired from the swing era. It is that connection which allows both men to play off each other with equal excellence. Their cover of Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" and Mulligan's "Go Home" are especially brilliant. A must for both Webster and Mulligan fans. --Phil Brett

Artist: Art Tatum & Ben Webster

One of Greatest!, 2009-12-11
This meeting of Ben Webster's lush romantic tenor with Art Tatum's rococco piano improvisations produced one of the finest of all jazz albums. Both the main particpants came out of the mid-west and this common heritage shows in the perfect synergy of their playing. Most tracks are ballads - there is also a splendid mid-tempo 'Night and Day' - and are among the most beautiful ever recorded. The bass and drums provide unobtrusive support and the sound quality is first class.

As the copyright has expired on this session, it is now available on a number of labels. This one includes, as a bonus, some Tatum solo tracks. However, I would recommend the official issue on Pablo. This includes the surviving alternate takes from the session and has been beautifully remastered from the original tapes. But, whichever version you get, this remains an essential purchase.

Artist: Ben Webster

extending your jazz library, 2010-01-08
And that is the issue: I give this 5 stars for 10 cds of good music at an excellent price - a price that a few years ago you would have thought an impossibility.

As has been pointed out elsewhere by customers, there is little disog info to go on with this series - like the Membran boxes. Properbox 4cd sets are the gold standard for that, but these are better bargains. And possibly best acquired after the Properbox?

But note that unlike Properbox, T2 and Membran tend to be quite a bit under 80mins on each cd - but sometimes that can be quite a natural listen. I am sure that it is not a cynical attempt to sell short measure!

I think that anyone who knows the work of Ben Webster and associated musicians will find this an excellent purchase. The sound quality is as good as available on any full price major label issues.

No better time for buying old jazz than today. If you know what you want, this is exactly the kind of purchase to make.

(My one reservation is that cd 1 opens with Danny Boy. Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I have such an aversion to this tune - ditto We'll Meet Again, from another tradition. Charlie Haden and Hank Jones may have tastefully done DB in 97(?) but I can do without.)

Artist: Ben Webster, Stan Tracey

Superb!, 2009-03-16
The tone of Ben Webster's tenor is just sublime and this is an excellent example of his playing. He is accompanied here by the Stan Tracey (with Dave Green - Bass & Tony Crombie- Drums) at Ronnie Scott's. There are 2 sets here and Londonderry Air is in both but that just doesn't matter it is a joy to hear both Ben and Stan is such good form. Considering the long hours and low pay that was standard at the time, and Ben Webster's infamous drunkeness, it is amazing that the quality was so astonishingly high.

Ben Webster has recorded other brilliant versions of Come Sunday, notably on Soulmates but this is at least as good as that and this version of In a Mellow Tone is the equal of his version with Gerry Mulligan on Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster.

It is great to hear how Stan Tracey managed to adapt his monkish playing style to Ben Webster's mellow playing style. This is a rare treat so if you are looking at this you must have an idea that you like this sort of thing. If you are a Ben Webster fan this is for you; if you are a Stan Tracey fan then this is for you, so what are you waiting for, buy it!

Artist: Ben Webster

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