Ben Wester

This album is a collection of classic melodies from the repertoire of Ben Webster’s famous employer of many years, Duke Ellington.

The album is comprised of three live radio sessions with the Danish Radio Big Band in 1969 and 1971, plus live concert sessions with two different backing trios (Finland in 1967 and Denmark in 1969).

Aside from one tune, all the performances with the Danish Radio Big Band arebased on Ellington’s original scores. The quartet sessions are also great - one with Ben’s boss from the early 1930’s, Teddy Wilson, and the other with Kenny Drew.

That Ben Webster was one of the undisputed jazz greats on the tenor saxophone - both in a big band and small group context - is amply illustrated on this fine album.

TRACKS, PERSONNEL & DATES

• SIDE A
• A1. COTTONTAIL
• A2. JOHNNY COME LATELY
• Kenny Drew - (piano)
• Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - (bass)
• Al Heath - (drums)
• Recorded at Pori Jazzfestival, Finland, July 14, 1967.

• A3. PERDIDO
• A4. IN A MELLOW TONE
• Teddy Wilson - (piano)
• Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - (bass)
• Makaya Ntsoko - (drums)
• Recorded at Odd Fellow Palæet, Copenhagen, 1969

• SIDE B
• B1. BOJANGLES
• Palle Mikkelborg, Perry Knudsen, Palle Bolvig, Allan Botschinsky & Arne Lamberth - (trumpets)
• Per Espersen, Torolf Mølgård, Axel Windfeld, Ole Kurt Jensen & Erling Kroner - (trombones)
• Uffe Karskov, Jesper Thilo, Erling Christensen, Bent Nielsen & Flemming Madsen - (reeds)
• Ole Kock Hansen - (piano)
• Ole Molin - (guitar)
• Hugo Rasmussen - (bass)
• Bjarne Rostvold - (drums)
• Finn Ziegler - (vibraphone)
• Recorded for the Danish Radio, November 22, 1971

• B2. ROCKIN' IN RHYTHM
• B4. STOMPY JONES
• Palle Mikkelborg, Perry Knudsen, Palle Bolvig, Allan Botschinsky & Henry Henkel - (trumpets)
• Poul Jørgensen, Per Espersen, Torolf Mølgård, Ole Kurt Jensen & Helmuth Hjorth Hansen - (trombones)
• Uffe Karskov, Jesper Thilo, Erling Christensen, Bent Nielsen & Flemming Madsen - (reeds)
• Ole Kock Hansen - (piano)
• Ole Molin - (guitar)
• Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - (bass)
• William Schiöppfe - (drums)
• Bjarne Rostvold & John Steffensen - (congas)
• Recorded for the Danish Radio, October 10, 1969

• B3. THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE
• B5. COTTONTAIL
• Palle Mikkelborg, Palle Bolvig, Allan Botschinsky, Arne Lamberth & Svend Lundvig - (trumpets)
• Torolf Mølgård, Ole Kurt Jensen, Helmuth Hjorth Hansen, Poul Keldgård & Kurt Järnberg - (trombones)
• Uffe Karskov, Jesper Thilo, Erling Christensen, Bent Nielsen & Flemming Madsen - (reeds)
• Niels Jørgen Steen - (piano)
• Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - (bass)
• William Schiöppfe - (drums)
• Bjarne Rostvold & John Steffensen - (congas)
• Recorded for the Danish Radio, November 27, 1969