#benwebster

Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

Opening my Sunday morning with one of my favorite jazz artists, and a great tenor sax player, Ben Webster, from his album “At The Renaissance” as reissued by Analogue Productions. Recorded on October 14, 1960 by Howard Holzer and mastered for reissue by the late, great Doug Sax, and pressed at RTI, this album really shines. Webster along with Jim Hall, Jimmy Robles, Red Mitchell and Frank Butler out on the West Coast on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. Webster was in top form, as were his band mates. This is a live recording, and there’s a bit too much left/right to the sound for my liking, but that is offset by the tone and timbre of Webster’s tenor sax. His big, warm detailed sound (just listen for his breath on the reed). Hall’s guitar is a wonderful choice for a front line mate to Webster. And what needs be said about the rhythm section? These guys (Rowles especially) could play anything. Here they dive into five standards and one tune Webster had intimate knowledge of, Duke Ellington’s “Caravan (written while Webster was a member of the Ellington orchestra.) I’ve never heard an original pressing, so I can’t say how much of an improvement this reissue is. But I can state that I doubt it tops this LP. Long (LONG) OOP, you’ll have to scour the used market for a copy. But damn, is it worth it. Most highly recommended. #lp #record #recordcollector #recordcollection #recordlabel #album #albumcover #vinyl #vinylrecords #stereo #analog #benwebster #highend #audiophile #audiophilevinyl #audiophilepressing https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJRbnHgXqi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u0u3l4gywu54

hans ostrom 2018

Bass – Ray Brown Drums – Jo Jones Guitar – Leslie Spann Piano – Jimmy Jones Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster, Budd Johnson, Coleman Hawkins Trumpet – Roy Eldridge

Ben Webster and Benny Morton outside the Famous Door, NYC, 1938. Photo Buck Clayton collection.

“Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster and trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, both veterans of the swing era (although associated with different orchestras), had long wanted to record a full album together. The results, a swinging quintet set with pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Clarence Johnston, are quite rewarding. There are two ballad features for the tenor (“How Long Has This Been Going On” and a beautiful version of “My Romance”) and one for Edison (“Embraceable You”), along with three medium-tempo collaborations. Nothing unexpected occurs but the melodic music is quite enjoyable.” – Scott Yanow/AllMusic .

Before there were the 3 Tenors of opera fame, there were the giants of tenor saxophone: Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young.

This Storyville rеlеаѕе fеаturеѕ thе grеаt tеnоr рlауіng nіnе ѕоngѕ аѕѕосіаtеd wіth Ellіngtоn.