Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

tenor saxophonist.

Career

Early life and career

A native of

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from Pete Johnson, and received saxophone lessons from

Budd Johnson Albert J. "Budd" Johnson III (December 14, 1910 – October 20, 1984) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who worked extensively with, among others, Ben Webster, Benny Goodman, Big Joe Turner, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke ...

. He played with

Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most i ...

in the Young Family Band. He recorded with

Blanche Calloway Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (February 9, 1902 – December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer, composer, and bandleader. She was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. With a music career that spa ...

and became a member of the

Bennie Moten Benjamin Moten (November 13, 1893 – April 2, 1935) was an American jazz pianist and band leader born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. He led his Kansas City Orchestra, the most important of the regional, blues-based orchest ...

Orchestra with

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

Hot Lips Page Oran Thaddeus "Hot Lips" Page (January 27, 1908 – November 5, 1954) was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader. He was known as a scorching soloist and powerful vocalist. Page was a member of Walter Page's Blue Devils, Artie Sha ...

, and Walter Page. For the rest of the 1930s, he played in bands led by

Willie Bryant William Stevens Bryant (August 30, 1908 – February 9, 1964) was an American jazz bandleader, vocalist, and disc jockey, known as the "Mayor of Harlem". Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, while growing up he took trumpet l ...

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...

, Fletcher Henderson, Andy Kirk, and

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of many ...

With Ellington

Webster was a soloist with the

Duke Ellington Orchestra Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

from 1940, appearing on "Cotton Tail". He considered

Johnny Hodges Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on soprano ...

, an alto saxophonist in the Ellington orchestra, a major influence on his playing.

Gunther Schuller Gunther Alexander Schuller (November 22, 1925June 21, 2015) was an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, educator, publisher, and jazz musician. Biography and works Early years Schuller was born in Queens, New York City, ...

wrote in 1989 that Hodges influence pushed him away from his original inspiration, Coleman Hawkins. Webster became close to

Jimmy Blanton James Blanton (October 5, 1918 – July 30, 1942) was an American jazz double bassist. Blanton is credited with being the originator of more complex pizzicato and arco bass solos in a jazz context than previous bassists. Nicknamed "Jimmie," Bla ...

and

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take ...

, the other two newcomers to Ellington's orbit. Webster's personality, however, proved difficult for most members of the orchestra and for Ellington. It was not possible, according to

Mercer Ellington Mercer Kennedy Ellington (March 11, 1919 – February 8, 1996) was an American musician, composer, and arranger. His father was Duke Ellington, whose band Mercer led for 20 years after his father's death. Biography Early life and education Ellin ...

, for his father and the saxophonist to be in the same room without an argument developing. Webster cried when he heard Blanton had died, but as baritone player Harry Carney recalled, "After he had a drink or two, he'd change". Webster left the band in 1943. Reportedly, he cut one of Ellington's sports jackets with a razor as one of his last acts as a member of the Ellington orchestra.

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duke ...

said the departure was because Webster slapped Ellington.

Later American career

Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City, where he recorded frequently as a leader and sideman. During this time he worked with

Raymond Scott Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow; September 10, 1908 – February 8, 1994) was an American composer, band leader, pianist, record producer, and inventor of electronic instruments. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is ...

, John Kirby,

Bill DeArango William Louis DeArango (20 September 1920 – 26 December 2005) was an American jazz guitarist. Career DeArango was self-taught on guitar. While he attended Ohio State University, he played with Dixieland bands at night. After serving in the A ...

Sid Catlett Sidney "Big Sid" Catlett (January 17, 1910 – March 25, 1951) was an American jazz drummer. Catlett was one of the most versatile drummers of his era, adapting with the changing music scene as bebop emerged. Early life Catlett was born in Eva ...

Jay McShann James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and B ...

, and

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...

. For a few months in 1948, he returned briefly to Ellington's orchestra. In 1953, he recorded ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' (now known as ''

King of the Tenors ''King of the Tenors'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1953 for the Norgran Records, Norgran label and originally released as ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' (MGN 1001). The album was re- ...

'') with pianist

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

, who would be an important collaborator with Webster throughout the decade in his recordings for the various labels of

Norman Granz Norman Granz (August 6, 1918 – November 22, 2001) was an American jazz record producer and concert promoter. He founded the record labels Clef, Norgran, Down Home, Verve, and Pablo. Granz was acknowledged as "the most successful impres ...

. Along with Peterson, trumpeter

Harry "Sweets" Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard bac ...

and others, he was touring and recording with Granz's

Jazz at the Philharmonic Jazz at the Philharmonic, or JATP (1944–1983), was the title of a series of jazz concerts, tours and recordings produced by Norman Granz. Over the years, "Jazz at the Philharmonic" featured many of the era's preeminent musicians, including Lou ...

package. In 1956, he recorded an album with pianist

Art Tatum Arthur Tatum Jr. (, October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest in his field. From early in his career, Tatum's technical ability was regarded by fellow musicians as extraord ...

, supported by bassist

Red Callender George Sylvester "Red" Callender (March 6, 1916 – March 8, 1992) was an American string bass and tuba player. He is perhaps best known as a jazz musician, but worked with an array of pop, rock and vocal acts as a member of The Wrecking Cr ...

and drummer Bill Douglass. '' Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster'' with fellow tenor saxophonist

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first p ...

was recorded on December 16, 1957, along with Peterson, Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), and

Alvin Stoller Alvin Stoller (October 7, 1925 – October 19, 1992) was an American jazz drummer. Though he seems to have been largely forgotten, he was held in high regard in the 1940s and 1950s. He was best known for playing drums on both Mitch Miller's ...

(drums). The Hawkins and Webster recording saw the coming together of two giants of the tenor saxophone, who had first met back in Kansas City. In the late 1950s, he formed a quintet with

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

and played frequently at a club in Los Angeles called Renaissance. It was there that the Webster-Mulligan group backed up blues singer

on an album recorded live for the Hi-Fi Jazz label. That same year, 1959, the quintet, with pianist

Jimmy Rowles James George Hunter (August 19, 1918 – May 28, 1996), known professionally as Jimmy Rowles (sometimes spelled Jimmie Rowles), was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer. As a bandleader and accompanist, he explored multiple styles in ...

, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Mel Lewis, also recorded ''

Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster ''Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster'', also simply called ''Meets Ben Webster'', is a 1960 album featuring the November 3 - December 2 studio sessions of American jazz musicians Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster.Verve Records Verve Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the label is home to the world's largest jazz catalogue, which includes recordings by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simon ...

In Europe

Webster worked steadily, but in late 1964 he moved to Europe, working with other expatriate American jazz musicians and local musicians. He played when he pleased during his last decade. He lived in London and several locations in Scandinavia for one year, followed by three years in Amsterdam, and made his last home in Copenhagen in 1969. Webster appeared as a sax player in a low-rent cabaret club in the 1970 Danish blue film titled '' Quiet Days in Clichy''. In 1971, Webster reunited with

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

and his orchestra for a couple of shows at the

Tivoli Gardens Tivoli Gardens, also known simply as Tivoli, is an amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, after Dyrehavsbakken in nearby Klam ...

in Copenhagen; he also recorded "live" in France with

Earl Hines Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...

. He also recorded or performed with Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman and Teddy Wilson. Webster suffered a

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

in Amsterdam in September 1973, following a performance at the Twee Spieghels in

Leiden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...

, and died on September 20. His body was cremated in Copenhagen and his ashes were buried in the

Assistens Cemetery Assistens Cemetery ( da, Assistens Kirkegård) is the name of a number of cemeteries in Denmark. The common nominator is, as the first part of the name implies (Latin: ''assistens'' meaning assisting), an assisting cemetery for a town's churches. ...

in the Nørrebro section of the city. Webster's private collection of jazz recordings and memorabilia is archived in the

jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark The Music Department at the University Library of Southern Denmark in Odense has through donations and acquisitions since 1997 achieved the status of research archive of specialised jazz studies. The Danish Jazz Center closed on 1 July 1997. Much ...

, Odense. Ben Webster used the same saxophone from 1938 until his death in 1973. He left instructions that the horn was never to be played again. It is on display in the Jazz Institute at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Ben Webster has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Ben Websters Vej".

Ben Webster Foundation

After Webster's death, Billy Moore Jr. and the trustee of Webster's estate created the Ben Webster Foundation, a non-profit organization in Denmark. During the eight years Webster lived in Denmark, he lacked a manager or agent to take care of his artistic rights. In 1972, he joined Billy Moore Jr., arranger for

Jimmie Lunceford James Melvin Lunceford (June 6, 1902 – July 12, 1947) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era. Early life Lunceford was born on a farm in the Evergreen community, west of the Tombigbee River, near Fulton, Mi ...

. Moore clarified Webster's recording history to secure his royalties. Moore started the Ben Webster Foundation with the trustee of Webster's estate. Webster's sole legal heir, Harley Robinson of Los Angeles, gladly assigned his rights to the Foundation. The Ben Webster Foundation was confirmed by the

Queen of Denmark The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Kingdom of Denmark was a ...

's Seal in 1976. In the Foundation's trust deed, one of the initial paragraphs reads: "to support the dissemination of jazz in Denmark". The trust is a beneficial foundation which channels Webster's annual royalties to musicians in both Denmark and the U.S. An annual

Ben Webster Prize The Ben Webster Prize is an annual jazz award set up by the Ben Webster Foundation to honour Danish and American jazz musicians as well as other professionals active in the promotion of jazz in those countries. The American jazz musician Ben Webst ...

is awarded to a young outstanding musician. The prize is not large, but is considered highly prestigious. Over the years, several American musicians have visited Denmark with the help of the Foundation, and concerts, a few recordings, and other jazz-related events have been supported. The board of the foundation consists of close friends and fans of Webster. Webster's annual royalties are conveyed back to musicians both in Denmark and the U.S. The

is awarded annually by vote to one outstanding young musician. American musicians have visited Denmark to help the foundation by giving concerts. The Board of Trustees monitors Webster's artistic rights and reissues of his music. The foundation concentrates on the legality, quality, and validity of these reissues. In year 2009,

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical direc ...

's Almost Big Band opened the

Copenhagen Jazz Festival Copenhagen Jazz Festival is a jazz event every July in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Copenhagen Jazz Festival was established in 1979, but beginning in 1964 Tivoli Gardens presented a series of concerts under the name Copenhagen Jazz Festiva ...

with a concert at the Copenhagen Jazzhouse which included the "All Time Battle of Tenor Saxophones" presented by the Webster Foundation.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

* ''

'' (Verve, 1953 957 originally released as ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' on Norgran in 1954) * '' Music for Loving'' (Norgran, 1955) * '' The Art Tatum – Ben Webster Quartet'' (Verve, 1958; reissued as ''

The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Volume Eight ''The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Volume Eight'' is an album by pianist Art Tatum and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, with Red Callender on double bass and Bill Douglass on drums. The 1956 session was originally released in 1958 on Verve Records alb ...

'', Pablo) * '' Soulville'' (Verve, 1958) * '' Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster'' (Verve, 1959) * '' Ben Webster and Associates'' (Verve, 1959) * ''

Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson ''Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson'' is a 1960 studio album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, with the tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Reception Writing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Cook wrote "Another fine We ...

'' (Verve, 1959) * ''At the Renaissance'' – with

and

, (HiFi Jazz, 1959

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* ''

Ben Webster at the Renaissance ''Ben Webster at the Renaissance'' is a live album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in California in 1960 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.985 Year 985 ( CMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Henry II (the Wrangler) is restored as duke of Bavaria by Empress Theoph ...

* ''

The Warm Moods ''The Warm Moods'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1960 for the Reprise label.BBB & Co.'' (Swingville, 1962) – with Benny Carter and Barney Bigard * '' Wanted to Do One Together'' (Columbia, 1962) * '' Soulmates'' with Joe Zawinul (Riverside, 1963) * '' See You at the Fair'' (Impulse!, 1964) * ''Intimate!'' (Fontana, 1965; recorded at the Café Montmartre, Copenhagen & reconfigured for Black Lion reissues) * ''Big Ben Time!'' (Fontana, 1967) * ''Ben Webster Meets Don Byas'' (SABA, 1968) * ''Big Sound'' (Polydor, 1969) * ''Ben Webster at Ease'' (Ember, 1969) * ''For the Guv'nor'' (Columbia, 1969) * ''Webster's Dictionary'' (Philips, 1970) * ''Ben at His Best'' (RCA Victor, 1970) * ''Atmosphere For Lovers And Thieves'' (Black Lion, 1971) * ''Autumn Leaves'' with Georges Arvanitas (Futura, 1972) * ''Swingin' in London'' (Black Lion, 1972) * '' My Man: Live at Montmartre 1973'' ( Steeplechase, 1973) * ''Previously Unreleased Recordings'' (Verve, 1974) * ''Saturday Night at the Montmartre'' (Black Lion, 1974; reissued on CD in expanded form as ''Stormy Weather'', Black Lion, 1989) * ''Rare Live Performance 1962'' (Musidisc, 1975) * ''Ben and the Boys'' (Jazz Archives, 1976) * ''Sunday Morning at the Montmartre'' (Black Lion, 1977; reissued in expanded form on CD as ''Gone With the Wind'', Black Lion, 1989) * ''Layin' Back with Ben Vol. 1'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Layin' Back with Ben Vol. 2'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Carol & Ben'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Did You Call?'' (Nessa, 1978) * ''The Horn'' (Circle, 1982) * ''Plays Duke Ellington'' (Storyville, 1988) * ''Ben Webster Plays Ballads'' (Storyville, 1988) * ''Meets Bill Coleman'' (Black Lion, 1989) * ''Live in Paris 1972'' (France's Concert, 1989) * ''Live in Amsterdam'' (Affinity, 1989) * ''The Jeep Is Jumping'' (Black Lion, 1990) * '' 1953: An Exceptional Encounter'' (The Jazz Factory, 2000)

As sideman

With

* ''

The Blanton–Webster Band ''The Blanton–Webster Band'' is a compilation album that combines the master takes of all the recordings by Duke Ellington's Orchestra during the years of 1940 to 1942, involving bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Th ...

'' (Bluebird 1940–1942

986 Year 986 ( CMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * August 17 – Battle of the Gates of Trajan: Emperor Basil II leads a Byz ...

* ''The Great Ellington Units'' (Bluebird 1940–1941 988 – Webster featured in sessions under the nominal leadership of Barney Bigard and

Rex Stewart Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Career As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...

* '' Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band'' (3-CD set;RCA-BMG, 1940–1942

003 003, O03, 0O3, OO3 may refer to: *003, fictional British 00 Agent *003, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian ambulance service (until 1986) *1990 OO3, the asteroid 6131 Towen * OO3 gauge model railway *''O03 (O2)'' and other related ...

With

* ''

The Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the African- ...

'' (Norgran, 1955) * '' Blues-a-Plenty'' (Verve, 1958) * '' Not So Dukish'' (Verve, 1958) With others *

, '' String Along with Basie'' (Roulette, 1960) *

Buddy Bregman Louis Isidore "Buddy" Bregman (July 9, 1930 – January 8, 2017) was an American arranger and conductor. Biography Bregman was born in Chicago. His father was an executive in the steel industry. His uncle was songwriter Jule Styne. He spen ...

, ''

Swinging Kicks ''Swinging Kicks'' is a 1957 album by the jazz arranger Buddy Bregman. The album was released as ''I Love Listening to Buddy Bregman'' by HMV in the United Kingdom. Reception Scott Yanow reviewed the album for AllMusic and wrote that it was "B ...

'' (Verve, 1957) *

, ''

Jazz Giant ''Jazz Giant'' is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released on Norgran in 1950, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded for Norman Granz in 1949 and 1950. The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by Verve as a Verv ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) *

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...

, ''

Sweets Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, i ...

'' (Clef, 1956) * Harry Edison, ''

Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" is a 1929 song written by Andy Razaf and Don Redman. It was recorded by the Redman-led McKinney's Cotton Pickers on Victor on November 5, 1929 as "Gee, Ain't I Good to You." King Cole Trio recording Nat King C ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * Dizzy Gillespie, ''

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings ''The Complete RCA Victor Recordings'' is a 1995 compilation 2-CD set of sessions led by Jazz trumpeter and composer Dizzy Gillespie recorded for the RCA Victor label between 1937 and 1949. Reception Writing for Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell stat ...

'' (Bluebird, 1995) *

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

, '' You Better Know It!!!'' (Impulse, 1965) *

, '' Coleman Hawkins and Confrères'' (Verve, 1958) *

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, ''

Songs for Hip Lovers ''Songs for Hip Lovers'' is a 1957 vocal album by the jazz bandleader Woody Herman, arranged by Marty Paich. Recording and music The album was recorded in two sessions, in January and March 1957. The material is standards and the arrangements ar ...

'' (Verve, 1957) *

Richard "Groove" Holmes Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes (May 2, 1931 – June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of " Misty". Career Holmes's first album, on Pacific ...

, '' "Groove"'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) * Richard "Groove" Holme, ''

Tell It Like It Tis ''Tell It Like It Tis'' is an album led by organist Richard "Groove" Holmes recorded in 1961 and 1962 and released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1966.Freed., RLes McCann Discographyaccessed March 4, 2016 Reception The Allmusic review by Michael ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961

el. 1966 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

Illinois Jacquet Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. Although he was a pioneer of t ...

, '' The Kid and the Brute'' (Clef, 1955) *

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups a ...

, '' Let's Cook!'' (Contemporary, 1962) * Mundell Lowe, ''

Porgy & Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', it ...

'' (RCA Camden, 1958) * Les McCann, ''

Les McCann Sings ''Les McCann Sings'' is an album by pianist and vocalist Les McCann recorded in 1961 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.Freed., RLes McCann Discographyaccessed January 12, 2016 Reception The AllMusic review by Ron Wynn called the album: "A ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) *

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

, '' Birds of a Feather'' (Decca, 1958) *

Oliver Nelson Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album ''The Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (1961) is regarded as one of the most signifi ...

, '' More Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (Impulse!, 1964) *

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York ...

, ''

The Wailing Buddy Rich ''The Wailing Buddy Rich'' is an album by jazz drummer Buddy Rich, released in 1955 on Norgran Records. The first two tracks were recorded on May 16, 1955, in New York; the remaining tracks were recorded with different personnel in Los Angeles o ...

'' (Norgran, 1955) *

, '' The Happy Horns of Clark Terry'' (Impulse!, 1964) * Joe Williams, '' At Newport '63'' (RCA Victor, 1963)

References

External links

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Career Early life and career A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...

— by Scott Yanow, for Allmusic
"Ben Webster played a sultry Sax..."The Ben Webster FoundationThe Jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark

Ben Webster recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Ben 1909 births 1973 deaths Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Swing saxophonists American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists Mainstream jazz saxophonists Duke Ellington Orchestra members American expatriates in Denmark American expatriates in the United Kingdom American expatriates in the Netherlands Jazz musicians from Missouri Nessa Records artists Blue Note Records artists 20th-century American musicians American emigrants to Denmark Naturalised citizens of Denmark 20th-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians The Cab Calloway Orchestra members Black Lion Records artists 20th-century American male musicians