Ballads

by Ben Webster

Overview

In the 1950s, tenor-saxophonist Ben Webster was at the peak of his powers. His musical personality really featured two separate emotions: harsh and tough on the faster pieces and surprisingly warm and tender on the ballads. Webster uses the latter voice throughout this two-LP set. On all but four of 20 selections, Ben is backed by a string section arranged by Ralph Burns (except for "Chelsea Bridge" which was arranged by Billy Strayhorn) and, although clarinetists Tony Scott and Jimmy Hamilton and pianists Teddy Wilson and Hank Jones are heard from, the focus is otherwise entirely on the great tenor. The final four numbers, which matches Webster with Wilson in a stringless quartet, also stick to ballads. Music that is both beautiful and creative. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2017
Label:	Wax Time
UPC:	8436559462273
Rank:	64620

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ben Webster   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Teddy Wilson   Piano
Gene Orloff   Violin
Harold Coletta   Violin
Tony Scott   Clarinet
Jo Jones   Drums
Wendell Marshall   Bass
Louie Bellson   Drums
Jimmy Hamilton   Clarinet
Ralph Burns   Conductor
Ray Brown   Bass
Billy Strayhorn   Piano,Conductor
Osie Johnson   Drums
Mischa Russell   Violin
Hank Jones   Piano
Al Epstein   Clarinet,Horn (English),Clarinet (Bass)
Al Young   Flute,Sax (Baritone)
George Duvivier   Bass
Danny Bank   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
George Ricci   Cello
Harry Lookofsky   Violin
Leo Kruczek   Violin
Chet Amsterdam   Bass
Martin Donegan   Violin
Jack Zayde   Violin
David Novales   Violin
Abraham Borodin   Cello
Lucien Smith   Cello
Richard Dickler   Viola
Burt Fisch   Viola
Mac Ceppos   Violin
Bernard Greenhouse   Cello
Tosha Samaroff   Violin
Lucien Schmit   Cello
Rudy Sims   Cello
Abram Borodkin   Cello
Paul Winter   Violin
Julius Schachter   Violin
Sol Deutsch   Violin

Technical Credits

Frederick Loewe   Composer
Bob Blumenthal   Original Liner Notes
Harold Arlen   Composer
Gene DePaul   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Isham Jones   Composer
Irving Gordon   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Jack Fulton   Composer
Alan Jay Lerner   Composer
Frankie Laine   Composer
Carl Fischer   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Sammy Gallop   Composer
Ralph Burns   Arranger,Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Arranger,Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Arthur Kent   Composer
Carl Sigman   Composer
Edward Heyman   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Woody Herman   Composer
Victor Young   Composer
Ann Ronell   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
Jack O'Brien   Composer
Marty Simes   Composer
Stewart Clay   Liner Notes