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Ben Webster
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Benjamin Francis Webster (1909-03-27 - 1973-09-20) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Ben Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important “swing tenors” along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he would play with warmth and sentiment. Webster learned to play piano and violin at an early age, before learning to play the saxophone. Once Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster began to play that instrument in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).
In 1940 Ben Webster became the first major tenor soloist of Duke Ellington’s orchestra. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including “
Cotton Tail” and “All Too Soon.” After three productive years of playing with Ellington, Webster left the band in an angry altercation, during which he cut up one of Ellington’s suits. After leaving Ellington in 1943, Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at The Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s.
Ben Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important “swing tenors” along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he would play with warmth and sentiment. Webster learned to play piano and violin at an early age, before learning to play the saxophone. Once Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster began to play that instrument in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).
In 1940 Ben Webster became the first major tenor soloist of Duke Ellington’s orchestra. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including “
Cotton Tail” and “All Too Soon.” After three productive years of playing with Ellington, Webster left the band in an angry altercation, during which he cut up one of Ellington’s suits. After leaving Ellington in 1943, Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at The Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s.
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Storyville Presents The A-Z Jazz Encyclopedia-W
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See You At The Fair
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Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson
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Jazz Master Series #43
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Top Tracks
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Chelsea Bridge
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Sunday
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Stardust
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In A Mellow Tone
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My Romance
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My Funny Valentine
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Soulville
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Cotton Tail
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Over The Rainbow
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Our Love Is Here To Stay
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Tenderly
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When I Fall In Love
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Shoutbox
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ViktorKrig wrote:
Tea for Two <3... Ben Webster is awsome!
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bfi_southbank wrote:
Jazz 625: Ben Webster & Stan Tracey A documented performance screening in celebration of Ronnie Scott's 50th anniversary: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/film_programme/june_seasons/jazz_in_june
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suffjazz wrote:
Ben's the best, forget about "smooth, breathy tone" and listen to his 1944 solo on Cottontail with Duke Ellington or the 1954 version on "King of the tenors".
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arhada wrote:
yay!
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keinmullergoyet wrote:
やっぱり Benは最高 彼のデジタルサウンド PCで聴けるなんてカルチャーショック! トリオのジャズバンドコピー このメロディーで歌詞をつけてうたうの フランス語で・・・
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toonzmith wrote:
I was not a jazz fan until I chanced upon Ben's "Soulville" recording at my local library. The album led me to a dimension of music I was missing before the discovery! Ben was, and always will be, the master of "smooooth" sax!
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Passionatething wrote:
"smooth jazz". I :|'d.
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mistercreative wrote:
breathy ballad master, he was cool ,but not to be filed under so- called smooth jazz!
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SirAlecHendrix wrote:
Ben Webster—now connected to the brandnew group ➤ Round Midnight
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F_Hole wrote:
The master balladeer, sacrificed everything for that tone; the very definition of romantic. Listen to him grow from the shadow of Coleman Hawkins in the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, to a unique artist with Duke Ellington to full fruit with Art Tatum and onward to the heights of intimacy.
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SYL2Oh wrote:
"Frog" was one of the major designers of classic jazz . Kansas City, Harlem, then Europe, where he ended his life, succumbed to the sweet sounds of his saxophone.
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Hunnih wrote:
This is without doubt the best thing that ever happend to jazz. Ben Webster is a true music master of his time. There is no Greather Love is his best album ..
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Similans wrote:
lol, the pic is scary i had to put a few in to vote for ;)
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
Whoa, how about some image control here? Who put that piece of shit up?
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closedmouth wrote:
He looks like that guy from Tekken...
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Recent Activity
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stargazer43 and heixingxing added Ben Webster to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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rijziger tagged Ben Webster with smooth jazz, cool jazz and saxophone. 6 hours ago
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Ashnod tagged Ben Webster with ‘nomongo’. yesterday evening
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Uhwelluh wrote about Ben Webster in Billy Strayhorn broadcast. Wednesday morning
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TheBladeRunner_ tagged Ben Webster with ‘to listen other times’. last week
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Groups (12)
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Jazz Brasil
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Swing
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Saxophone Jazz
450 members
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Extraños
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