Ben Webster

Ben Webster was just 41 days shy of his 55th birthday when this performance at the Half Note on Febreuary 14, 1964 was taped. He’d seen and adapted to all the changes that jazz and the 20th Century in general had wrought, having begun his carrer playing piano in silent movie house and then touring with Oklahoma territory bands on the tenor saxophone on which he was essentially selft taught. He player his mayor innovative orchestas in the Swing Era, culminating with his 1940-43 tenurewith Duke Ellington. World War II and the emergence of small group swing and be-bop were followed by the success of Norman Granz’s “Jazz At The Philharmonic” and recordings on Granz’s Verve label which kept Webster and dozens of other swing era giants in the public eye and playing the rent.

PERSONNEL:

BEN WEBSTER, saxophone
DAVE FRISHBERG, piano
RICHARD DAVIS, bass
GRADY TATE, drums

Recorded at Half Note, Februsry 14, 1964

SIDE A:

01. Caravan
02. Ben´s Blues
03. Cottontail
04. Tenderly

SIDE B:

05. CHelsea Bridge
06. How Long Has This Been Going On
07. Danny Boy