Ben Webster – Come Sunday (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:23 minutes | 1,29 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD – Storyville Records

Legendary tenor saxophone player Ben Webster’s tender, emotive ballad playing coupled with his vivacious, growling uptempo swing numbers made him one of the most well-loved and versatile jazz musicians of his time. This release covers both sides of Webster’s personality with numbers like You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, Come Sunday, Stompy Jones and Cottontail.
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Ben Webster – Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 47:22 minutes | 1,69 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD – Storyville Records

For many people Ben Webster is indelibly linked with the name of Duke Ellington. Ben had a long and distinguished career, of which his work with Duke was only a small part, but the crucial exposure just as he reached musical maturity was given by Ellington, and that maturity was hastened by the challenge of playing with Ellington. Yet he also gave a lot to the band and to the continuing Ellington tradition.

In other words, he created the role of the tenor saxophone with Duke. Before he joined for his longest stay (in January 1940), there had been no expectation of significant tenor contributions – despite Ben’s previous brief encounters in 1935 and 1936. But, in far less time than the 3 ½ years he remained, Ben had made the tenor an Ellingtonian voice almost as strong as Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney on alto and baritone. His departure left a huge hole in Duke’s music, which was filled by a series of heavyweight soloists including Al Sears, Jimmy Forrest, Don Byas, Ben again, and the great Paul Gonsalves.
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Ben Webster – Ballads (Remastered) (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 42:30 minutes | 1,34 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD

Swing tenor saxophone player Ben Webster earned the nickname “The Brute and the Beautiful” in jazz circles where his musical versatility was well-known. Webster’s signature tough, raspy and gruff tone softened on ballads, which he played with warmth and sentiment. This release presents the romantic side of Webster, showcasing some of his most impressive sessions from the 1950s, accompanied by Billy Strayhorn, Teddy Wilson and Jimmy Hamilton.
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Ben Webster – 25 Essentials of Ben Webster (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:12:34 minutes | 1,19 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BnF Collection

Ben Webster was considered one of the “big three” of 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 turn into a pussy cat and play with warmth and sentiment. After violin lessons as a child, Webster learned how to play rudimentary piano (his neighbor Pete Johnson taught him to play blues). But after Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster played sax in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). He had stints with Jap Allen and Blanche Calloway (making his recording debut with the latter) before joining Bennie Moten’s Orchestra in time to be one of the stars on a classic session in 1932. 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).
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