Wikipedia

Ben Webster

For other people named Ben Webster, seeBen Webster (disambiguation).

Benjamin Francis Webster(March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an Americanjazztenorsaxophonist.[1]

Ben Webster
Webster c. 1946
Webster c. 1946
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Francis Webster
Born(1909-03-27)March 27, 1909
Kansas City, MissouriU.S.
DiedSeptember 20, 1973(1973-09-20)(aged 64)
Amsterdam,Netherlands
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentTenor saxophone
Years active1929–1973
LabelsVerve Records,Riverside Records

Career

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Early life and career

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A native ofKansas City, Missouri,[1]he studiedviolin,learned how to playblueson the piano fromPete Johnson,and received saxophone lessons fromBudd Johnson.[2]He played withLester Youngin the Young Family Band.[2][3]He recorded withBlanche Callowayand became a member of theBennie MotenOrchestra withCount Basie,Hot Lips Page,andWalter Page.[2][4]During the 1930s, he played in bands led byWillie Bryant,Benny Carter,Cab Calloway,Fletcher Henderson,Andy Kirk,andTeddy Wilson.[2]

With Ellington

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Webster was a soloist with theDuke Ellington Orchestrastarting in 1940, appearing on "Cotton Tail".[2]He consideredJohnny Hodges,an alto saxophonist in the Ellington Orchestra, a major influence on his playing.[5]Gunther Schullerwrote in 1989, that Hodges' influence pushed him away from his original inspiration by Coleman Hawkins.[6]Webster became close toJimmy BlantonandBilly Strayhorn,the other two newcomers to Ellington's orbit.[7]

Webster's personality, however, proved difficult for most members of the orchestra and for Ellington. It was not possible, according toMercer Ellington,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 playerHarry Carneyrecalled, "After he had a drink or two, he'd change".[8]Webster left the band in 1943.[9]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.[8]Clark Terrysaid the departure was because Webster slapped Ellington.[10]

Later American career

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Webster worked on52nd Streetin New York City, where he recorded frequently as a leader and sideman.[2][11]During this time he worked withRaymond Scott,John Kirby,Bill DeArango,Sid Catlett,Jay McShann,andJimmy Witherspoon.For a few months in 1948, he returned briefly to Ellington's orchestra.

In 1953, he recordedThe Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster(now known asKing of the Tenors) with pianistOscar Peterson,who would be an important collaborator with Webster throughout the decade in his recordings for the various labels ofNorman Granz.Along with Peterson, trumpeterHarry "Sweets" Edisonand others, he was touring and recording with Granz'sJazz at the Philharmonicpackage. In 1956, he recorded an album with pianistArt Tatum,supported by bassistRed Callenderand drummerBill Douglass.Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Websterwith fellow tenor saxophonistColeman Hawkinswas recorded on December 16, 1957, along with Peterson,Herb Ellis(guitar),Ray Brown(bass), andAlvin Stoller(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 withGerry Mulliganand played frequently at a club in Los Angeles called Renaissance. It was there that the Webster-Mulligan group backed up blues singerJimmy Witherspoonon an album recorded live for the Hi-Fi Jazz label.[12]That same year, 1959, the quintet, with pianistJimmy Rowles,bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Mel Lewis, also recordedGerry Mulligan Meets Ben WebsterforVerve Records.[13]

In Europe

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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.[14]Webster appeared as a sax player in a low-rent cabaret club in the 1970 Danishblue filmtitledQuiet Days in Clichy.In 1971, Webster reunited withDuke Ellingtonand his orchestra for a couple of shows at theTivoli Gardensin Copenhagen; he also recorded "live" in France withEarl Hines.[15]He also recorded or performed with Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman and Teddy Wilson.

Webster suffered astrokein Amsterdam in September 1973, following a performance at the Twee Spieghels inLeiden,and died on September 20. His body was cremated in Copenhagen and his ashes were buried in theAssistens Cemeteryin theNørrebrosection of the city.[16]

Webster's private collection of jazz recordings and memorabilia is archived in thejazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark,Odense.[17]

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 theInstitute of Jazz StudiesatRutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.[18]

Ben Webster has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Ben Websters Vej".[19]

Ben Webster Foundation

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After Webster's death, Billy Moore Jr. and the trustee of Webster's estate created the Ben Webster Foundation,[20]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 forJimmie Lunceford.Moore clarified Webster's recording history to secure hisroyalties.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 theQueen of Denmark'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 annualBen Webster Prizeis 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. TheBen Webster Prizeis awarded annually by vote to one outstanding young musician.[21]

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.[22]

In year 2009,Ernie Wilkins'sAlmost Big Bandopened theCopenhagen Jazz Festivalwith a concert at the Copenhagen Jazzhouse which included the "All Time Battle of Tenor Saxophones" presented by the Webster Foundation.[23]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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As sideman

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WithHarry Edison

WithDuke Ellington

WithJohnny Hodges

WithBillie Holiday

WithRichard "Groove" Holmes

With others

References

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  1. ^abLarkin, Colin, ed. (1997).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music(Concise ed.). Virgin. p. 1240.ISBN1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^abcdefYanow, Scott."Ben Webster".AllMusic.RetrievedJune 8,2020.
  3. ^The Rough Guide to Jazz(3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2004. pp. 845–846.ISBN978-1-84353-256-9.
  4. ^Lee, William F. (2005).American Big Bands.Hal Leonard. p.71.ISBN978-0-634-08054-8.
  5. ^Chilton, John (1996).Sidney Bechet: The Wizard of Jazz.Da Capo Press. p. 289.ISBN0-306-80678-9.
  6. ^Schuller, Gunther (2005) [1989].The Swing Era: The Development Of Jazz, 1930–1945.New York City: Oxford University Press. p. 795.ISBN978-0-19-507140-5.
  7. ^Büchmann-Møller, Frank (2006).Someone to Watch Over Me: The Life and Music of Ben Webster.Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.ISBN978-0-472-11470-2.
  8. ^abLawrence, A.H. (2001).Duke Ellington and His World.New York City & London: Routledge. p. 321.ISBN978-0-415-93012-3.
  9. ^"That Eric Alper!".CJRT-FM.October 14, 2011.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  10. ^Zan Stewart interview with Clark Terry, Aug. 2003 for article in Newark Star-Ledger, September 28, 2003, "The Elder Statesman of Swing."
  11. ^Dicaire, David (2003).Jazz Musicians of the Early Years, to 1945.McFarland. p. 211.ISBN978-0-7864-8556-7.
  12. ^Bob Porter, "Portraits in Blue," broadcast August 2, 2014, on WBGO radio.
  13. ^Michael Ruppli, "The Complete Norgran, Clef and Verve Recordings, Vol. 2.(Greenwood Press)
  14. ^"Big Ben".The New Yorker.August 20, 2001.
  15. ^LP issued as Hines'sTune in FrancewithDon Byas,Roy Eldridge,Stuff Smith,Kenny ClarkeandJimmy Woode.
  16. ^"Six Graves to Know in Copenhagen's Assistens Kirkegård".Scandinavia Standard.May 7, 2016.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  17. ^"The jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark".RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  18. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (May 27, 1979)."Jazz at Rutgers".The New York Times.p. NJ16.
  19. ^Nic Liney (July 1, 2016)."When the Village Vanguard came to Denmark".RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  20. ^"Ben Webster Foundation".Ben Webster Foundation.RetrievedApril 21,2023.
  21. ^"The Annual Ben Webster Prize".Benwebster.dk. Archived fromthe originalon July 27, 2010.RetrievedOctober 12,2010.
  22. ^"The Ben Webster Foundation".Benwebster.dk.Archivedfrom the original on October 2, 2010.RetrievedOctober 12,2010.
  23. ^"All-time Battle of Tenor Saxophones in Hundred Years".Politiken.dk.RetrievedNovember 12,2010.
  24. ^Gold, Gerald (December 7, 1986)."Bluebird Flies Once More".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  25. ^Watrous, Peter (July 31, 1988)."Ellington in Everything but the Name".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
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