Ben Webster

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Benjamin Francis Webster (1909-03-27 - 1973-09-20) was an influential American 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.
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  • winklethe1st

    BEN AND "BETSY" PLAYED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, SOUL AND EMOTIONAL FILLED TUNES EVER..YOUR HEART ACHES FOR THIS MUSIC AND THOSE YOU'VE LOVED AND LOST...THANK YOU SO MUCH BEN....WE ALL MISS YOU TOO MUCH...!!!

    last month

  • promiscuite

    flap flap flap

    December 2011

  • Gooseberrry

    pure beauty, If only it was possible to go to his live concert

    November 2011

  • Mr_Johnny_Space

    гениальный..

    November 2011

  • sna033

    how does this guy have less than 500k listeners is beyond my head

    October 2011

  • Druid66

    He could blow with the best of them, and that's meant in a highly complimentary fashion. "Chelsea Bridge", of course, reminds me of England. (-:

    August 2011

  • LedHeadTilDeath

    Soulville <3

    August 2011

  • bloodmaw

    v v at the same time

    July 2011
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