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Ben Webster

Rugged and romantic, Ben Webster's big-toned tenor captivated jazz listeners for decades. From stardom with Duke Ellington to his solo classics of the 1960s and 60s, Geoffrey Smith chooses highlights from a unique career.

First broadcast in June 2013.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 14 Sep 2014 00:00
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Art Tatum & Ben Webster

    Have You Met Miss Jones?

  • Barney Kessel

    Tiger Rag

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Cottontail

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson

    Bye Bye Blackbird

  • Johnny Hodges

    Rabbit Pie

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Gerry Mulligan

    Chelsea Bridge

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • James P. Johnson

    After You've Gone

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    All Too Soon

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Raincheck

    Performer: Ben Webster.

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Raincheck

    Composer: Strayhorn Performers: Duke Ellington, p; Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, t; Ray Nance, t, vn; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl, ts; Johnny Hodges, as; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as: Billy Strayhorn, p; Fred Guy, g; Junior Raglin, b; Sonny Greer, d. 2 December 1941

    • The Blanton 鈥� Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D3, Tr. 7 (2.29).

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Cottontail

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, t; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl; Johnny Hodges, as, ss; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as: Duke Ellington, p; Fred Guy, g; Jimmie Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 4 May 1940

    • The Blanton 鈥� Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D1, Tr, 9 (3.09).

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    All Too Soon

    Composer: Ellington, Sigman Performers: Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, t; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl; Johnny Hodges, as, ss; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as: Duke Ellington, p; Fred Guy, g; Jimmie Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 22 July 1940

    • The Blanton 鈥� Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. Tr. 17 (3.29).

  • James P. Johnson

    After You've Gone

    Composer: Creamer, Layton Performers: James P. Johnson, p; Sidney De Paris, t; Ben Webster, ts; Vic Dickenson, tb; Jimmy Shirley, g; John Simmons, b; Sidney Catlett, d. 4 March 1944

    • Classics 1943 - 44.
    • Classics.
    • Classics824 (1); Tr. 16 (4.24).

  • Art Tatum and Ben Webster

    Have You Met Miss Jones?

    Composer: Rodgers, Heart Performers: Art Tatum, p; Ben Webster, ts; Red Callender, b; Bill Douglass, d. 11 September 1956

    • The Art Tatum 鈥� Ben Webster Quartet.
    • Phoenix Records.
    • 131545. Tr. 3 (4.44).

  • Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson

    Bye Bye Blackbird

    Composer: Henderson, Dixon Performers: Ben Webster, ts; Oscar Peterson, p; Ray Brown, b; Ed Thigpen, d. 6 November 1959

    • Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson.
    • Verve.
    • 8291672 (1); Tr.3 (6.42).

  • Ben Webster

    Tenderly

    Composer: Gross, Lawrence Performers: Ben Webster, ts; Oscar Peterson, p; Herb Ellis, g; Ray Brown, b; Alvin Stoller, d. 8 December 1953

    • King of the Tenors.
    • Verve.
    • 519 806 2. Tr. 1 (3.01).

  • Johnny Hodges

    Rabbit Pie

    Composer: Hodges Performers: Johnny Hodges, as; Ben Webster, ts; Lou Levy, p; Herb Ellis, g; Wilfred Middlebrooks, b; Gus Johnson, d. 22 & 23 November 1960

    • Johnny Hodges.
    • Storyville Masters of Jazz: Johnny Hodges.
    • 101 8510. Tr. 13 (4.49).

  • Gerry Mulligan

    Chelsea Bridge

    Composer: Strayhorn Performers: Ben Webster, ts; Gerry Mulligan, bs; Jimmy Rowles, p; Leroy Vinnegar, b; Mel Lewis, d. 3 November 1959.

    • Gerry Mulligan Meets the Saxophonists.
    • Verve.
    • 827 436 2 Tr. 1 (7.18).

  • Barney Kessel

    Tiger Rag

    Composer: The Original Dixieland Jazz Band Performers: Ben Webster, ts; Frank Rosolino, tb; Jimmy Rowles, p; Barney Kessel, g; Leroy Vinnegar, b; Shelly Manne, d. 6 August 1957

    • Let鈥檚 Cook.
    • Contemporary.
    • CDP 028. S2/1 (9.45).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Jun 2013 00:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Sun 14 Sep 2014 00:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music