Plays Ballads

by Ben Webster

Overview

Ever since the early '40s, Ben Webster displayed a gorgeous tone on the tenor when he played ballads. He knew how to give life and beauty to ballads by making every sound count, often while sticking close to the melody. This Storyville CD expands the original seven-song program with three previously unreleased performances. Webster is heard in a variety of settings, including the Teddy Wilson Trio ("Stardust"), with trumpeter Rolf Ericson in a quintet ("For All We Know"), alongside a few different rhythm sections, with a big band ("Cry Me a River"), and he is showcased with a string orchestra ("Greensleeves"). Whether it be "My Romance," "Danny Boy," or Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge," Webster plays beautifully throughout the set. The tempos might be similar, but the changes in instrumentation and the rich melodies mean that this set will hold the listener's attention all the way through. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	04/01/2002
Label:	Storyville
UPC:	0717101831920
Rank:	125938

Tracks

1. Stardust
2. Cry Me a River
3. For Heaven's Sake
4. Greensleeves
5. My Romance
6. Willow Weep for Me
7. Old Folks
8. Danny Boy
9. Chelsea Bridge
10. For All We Know

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ben Webster   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Kenny Drew   Guest Artist,Piano
Teddy Wilson   Guest Artist,Piano
William Schiopffe   Drums
Ole Molin   Piano,Guitar
Jesper Thilo   Reeds
Hugo Rasmussen   Bass
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen   Bass
Ole Kurt Jensen   Trombone
Ole Kock Hansen   Piano
Perry Knudsen   Trumpet
Uffe Karskov   Reeds
Hans Schwenger   Strings
Borge Madsen   Strings
Albert "Tootie" Heath   Drums
Palle Bolvig   Trumpet
Flemming Madsen   Reeds
Allan Botschinsky   Trumpet
Palle Mikkelborg   Trumpet
Bjarne Rostvold   Drums,Congas
Sahib Shihab   Reeds
Finn Ziegler   Strings
Niels Jorgen Steen   Conductor
Ove Winther   Strings
Aage Bertelsen   Strings
Anton Kontra   Strings
John Steffensen   Congas
Stanley Carlson   Strings
Mogens Holm Larsen   Strings
Torolf Molgard   Trombone
Holger Bjerre   Strings
Erling Christensen   Reeds,Strings
Svend Blankholm   Strings
Per Espersen   Trombone
Makaya Ntsoko   Drums
Henry Henkel   Trumpet
Poul Jorgensen   Trombone
Per Ludolph   Strings

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Sherman Edwards   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Elise Bretton   Composer
Don Meyer   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Sam M. Lewis   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Karl Emil Knudsen   Executive Producer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Donald Meyer   Composer
Frederick Edward Weatherly   Composer
Willard Robison   Composer
Hoagy Carmichael   Composer
Erik Moseholm   Producer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Arthur Hamilton   Composer
Ann Ronell   Composer
Sherman Edwards & Donald Meyer   Composer
Niels Jorgen Steen   Arranger
Chris Olesen   Artwork
Brian Priestley   Liner Notes
Jan Persson   Photography
Dedette Lee Hill   Composer