Ben Webster

[dgood]

I'm listening to a recording Ben Webster made with Art Tatum in the fifties, and before that I listened to a recording Ben Webster made with Gerry Mulligan (also in the fifties). Both are on Verve, and talk about TONE and phrasing!!! Ben Webster has the most insanely beautiful tone I have ever heard.

:bow

I highly recommend his recordings, especially these two, if you want to hear what it's all about. Gerry Mulligan and Art Tatum are also great on these recordings (as are the other musicians), but Ben Webster is GOD on these two (also on King of the Tenors with Oscar Peterson, also on Verve).

[aram]

yeah, ben is my favorite ballad player of all time.

beautiful.

[jjboogie]

Ben was sick man! And Art Tatum was just completely out of this world!

[duckbunny]

Ben had the most sensual sound ever...especially on the ballads and slow numbers. Just pure silk.




-db

[mcknigs]

Long time fan here.

-Scott

[Scott Miller]

Cottontail. Yeah.

[MartinPiana]

+ on Cottontail.... He was such a key part of Duke Ellington's best band, the one with Jimmy Blanton on bass.... There's an album on Verve he did with Coleman Hawkins that absolutely kills.... Those are my favorites, but he also plays alot on the Mosaic "Complete Johnny Hodges" sessions of the 1950s.... He could play like his hair was on fire, he could be huge and terrifying, or he could be gentle and charming.... Wonderful player.

Art Tatum, well that's something else again! His solo and trio stuff are mindbending, technically....

[mad dog]

Ben's musical soul ran deep. He was everpresent in the playing of my forever favorite rhasaan roland kirk. Influenced damn near everybody.

[guitarman_1]

Ben was a monster ballad player. Incredible tone and feel.I love the way he incorporated his breath with the phrasing, kind of doubling the line. My fave tenor saxman.