Customer Reviews

King of the Tenors

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great early 50's BW. Great line-up: Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Benny Carter show up on this CD. Recorded in NYC (Fulton St) and LA (Radio Recorders). This CD has 11 cuts on it. BW's Bounce Blues has all but two of these cuts (Poutin's and a shorter version of That's All) plus six additional cuts. The audio quality seems the same - so Bounce Blues is the better value. To confuse the issue even more - a new release (Complete 1953 Leader Studio Sessios) has all the cuts that are on King of the Tenors plus four more cuts recorded in NYC in 1953.

A lot of words aren't needed to describe Ben Webster... maybe three at best - - SOULFUL, SWINGING and VERSATILE. - - While players to follow put more emphasis on melodic, harmonic and rhythmic explorations, Ben Webster's trademark was his tonal mastery and expressiveness on his instrument... he was one of the few players who was able to change his tone according to what he wanted to say... he could play lush, sweet, mellow and breathy on one tune... then go full honker style in another... for this reason, this CD, which definitely showcases a wide scope of elements representing his unique virtuosity is a great listen.

THAT'S ALL, of course can be described as a monumentous moment in Jazz... I can only pray more young tenor hot head will get their hands on this album and remember one thing... WARMTH, feeling and expressiveness are what its really about, not the continuity of notes one is able to play in a single riff. Webster was profound, both melodically and expressively, hence its almost impossible not to listen to this CD repeatedly with awe and respect !

Very few records gives me sheer goose pimples and make feel completely at ease. This is one of those very few. Takes like "Danny Boy" and "That's all" are simply outstanding. You can really feel Websters presence, it's as if his breathy blowing gently strokes you, it's that near.

All 3 discs pairing Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson are great, but I like this one best for overall effect. Besides Ben you get Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown (not heard enough on this one though!), some Benny Carter & Sweets Edison too - all kings in their own way. Great tunes, all of them. And did "Poutin'" come out before "The Pink Panther Theme"? If it did, then Mancini owes Ben some thanks for that descending riff. Nice version of it on the Ben + Modern Jazz Quartet CD too. Maybe "King" is a pretentious title (Coleman Hawkins? Lester Young?) but it's OK given the quality of this CD.

I'm a new convert to jazz, and this CD is perfect for my developing taste. Sensitively played, the tenor saxophone in Webster's hands brings music you can listen to all day long. A great album.

I don't know that I can pick *one* Ben Webster cd as my favorite and, honestly, I don't have to so that's a dam* good thing. But I reach for this one time and time again when I want to things just right. Above "Soulville," above "Meets Oscar Peterson" or "Encounters Coleman Hawkins" (one of my very favorites as well, simply because it doesn't get much better than the Hawk and Ben together)...I grab this one. Even better than "See you At The World's Fair" (and you gotta admit that cd does have a dam* good vibe).

This cd just flows. The one fault I have, and it ain't much of one, is that it's just too short. But, that's just selfishness talkin', so, as a grandmother of mine once used to say, don't pay it no nevermind.

When you wanna things just.....*so*, when you wanna grab your baby and get some sugar, when you wanna lay in the dark and think about how she done you wrong, or when you wanna just know that you ain't in things alone, brother, you need to stop looking. Your journey ends right here.

This is the cd that started my love for Ben. I have listened to it a million times over the past 15 years. It's just GREAT.

I have just got this album - honestly - I am a serious musician -play Violin, Sax, Guitar, Mandolin, 5 string banjo and tenor sax. I had never heard of Ben Webster - this man has so much feeling - he can make silence vibrate - literally.

If you love Sax and great music this is the man for you - the emotion and feeling is incredible. It don't get better.

Just buy everything that you can get your hands on - that's my intention.

"make silence vibrate"? damn, that's good... one of the other reviewers said that and i feel what he's sayin... ben does it with this one, but this is proly the least favorite of the 5 or 6 discs i have of him... he do be tearin it down with 'tenderly' tho!!! that's my track! serious devotees of mr. ben will like this as will most hard core jazz fanatics... i cant complain...