Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

tenor saxophonist.

Career

Early life and career

A native of

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the List of United States cities by populat ...

, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from Pete Johnson, and received saxophone lessons from Budd Johnson. He played with

Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most ...

in the Young Family Band. He recorded with

Blanche Calloway Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (February 9, 1902 – December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer, composer, and bandleader. She was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. With a music career that span ...

and became a member of the

Bennie Moten Benjamin Moten (November 13, 1893 – April 2, 1935) was an American jazz pianist and band leader born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. He led his Kansas City Orchestra, the most important of the regional, blues-based orchest ...

Orchestra with Count Basie, Hot Lips Page, and

Walter Page Walter Sylvester Page (February 9, 1900 – December 20, 1957) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, best known for his groundbreaking work as a double bass player with Walter Page's Blue Devils and the Count Basie Orchestr ...

. For the rest of the 1930s, he played in bands led by

Willie Bryant William Stevens Bryant (August 30, 1908 – February 9, 1964) was an American jazz bandleader, vocalist, and disc jockey, known as the "Mayor of Harlem". Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, while growing up he took trumpet ...

, Benny Carter,

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalis ...

Fletcher Henderson James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black music ...

, Andy Kirk, and Teddy Wilson.

With Ellington

Webster was a soloist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1940, appearing on "Cotton Tail". He considered Johnny Hodges, an alto saxophonist in the Ellington orchestra, a major influence on his playing. Gunther Schuller wrote in 1989 that Hodges influence pushed him away from his original inspiration, Coleman Hawkins. Webster became close to Jimmy Blanton and

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include " Take ...

, the other two newcomers to Ellington's orbit. Webster's personality, however, proved difficult for most members of the orchestra and for Ellington. It was not possible, according to Mercer 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 player

Harry Carney Harry Howell Carney (April 1, 1910 – October 8, 1974) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinettist who spent over four decades as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He played a variety of instruments but primarily used the baritone saxophone ...

recalled, "After he had a drink or two, he'd change". Webster left the band in 1943. 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.

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...

said the departure was because Webster slapped Ellington.

Later American career

Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City, where he recorded frequently as a leader and sideman. During this time he worked with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, Bill DeArango, Sid Catlett, Jay McShann, and Jimmy Witherspoon. For a few months in 1948, he returned briefly to Ellington's orchestra. In 1953, he recorded ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' (now known as '' King of the Tenors'') with pianist

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

, who would be an important collaborator with Webster throughout the decade in his recordings for the various labels of Norman Granz. Along with Peterson, trumpeter

Harry "Sweets" Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard bac ...

and others, he was touring and recording with Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package. In 1956, he recorded an album with pianist Art Tatum, supported by bassist Red Callender and drummer

Bill Douglass William Douglass (February 28, 1923 – December 19, 1994) was an American jazz drummer born in Sherman, Texas. Douglass relocated to Los Angeles when he was six months old,Bryant, 233. becoming in his adulthood a popular Los Angeles musicia ...

. ''

Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster ''Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster'' is a studio album recorded on October 16, 1957, by Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, accompanied by a rhythm section led by Oscar Peterson. In the United Kingdom, the album was released with the title ' ...

'' with fellow tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins was recorded on December 16, 1957, along with Peterson,

Herb Ellis Mitchell Herbert Ellis (August 4, 1921 – March 28, 2010), known professionally as Herb Ellis, was an American jazz guitarist. During the 1950s, he was in a trio with pianist Oscar Peterson. Biography Born in Farmersville, Texas, and raised ...

(guitar), Ray Brown (bass), and Alvin 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 with

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

and played frequently at a club in Los Angeles called Renaissance. It was there that the Webster-Mulligan group backed up blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon on an album recorded live for the Hi-Fi Jazz label. That same year, 1959, the quintet, with pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Mel Lewis, also recorded '' Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster'' for

Verve Records Verve Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the label is home to the world's largest jazz catalogue, which includes recordings by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simon ...

In Europe

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. Webster appeared as a sax player in a low-rent cabaret club in the 1970 Danish blue film titled '' Quiet Days in Clichy''. In 1971, Webster reunited with

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

and his orchestra for a couple of shows at the

Tivoli Gardens Tivoli Gardens, also known simply as Tivoli, is an amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, after Dyrehavsbakken in nearby Kla ...

in Copenhagen; he also recorded "live" in France with

Earl Hines Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...

. He also recorded or performed with Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman and Teddy Wilson. Webster suffered a

stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...

in Amsterdam in September 1973, following a performance at the Twee Spieghels in

Leiden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration w ...

, and died on September 20. His body was cremated in Copenhagen and his ashes were buried in the

Assistens Cemetery Assistens Cemetery ( da, Assistens Kirkegård) is the name of a number of cemeteries in Denmark. The common nominator is, as the first part of the name implies (Latin: ''assistens'' meaning assisting), an assisting cemetery for a town's churches. ...

in the

Nørrebro Nørrebro (, ) is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate (''Nørreport''), which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport statio ...

section of the city. Webster's private collection of jazz recordings and memorabilia is archived in the jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark, Odense. 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 the Jazz Institute at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Ben Webster has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Ben Websters Vej".

Ben Webster Foundation

After Webster's death, Billy Moore Jr. and the trustee of Webster's estate created the Ben Webster Foundation, 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 for Jimmie Lunceford. Moore clarified Webster's recording history to secure his

royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...

. 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 the

Queen of Denmark The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Kingdom of Denmark was ...

'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 annual Ben Webster Prize is 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. The Ben Webster Prize is awarded annually by vote to one outstanding young musician. 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. In year 2009, Ernie Wilkins's Almost Big Band opened the

Copenhagen Jazz Festival Copenhagen Jazz Festival is a jazz event every July in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Copenhagen Jazz Festival was established in 1979, but beginning in 1964 Tivoli Gardens presented a series of concerts under the name Copenhagen Jazz Festiva ...

with a concert at the Copenhagen Jazzhouse which included the "All Time Battle of Tenor Saxophones" presented by the Webster Foundation.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

* '' King of the Tenors'' (Verve, 1953

957 Year 957 ( CMLVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * September 6 – Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever ne ...

originally released as ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' on

Norgran Norgran Records was an American jazz record label in Los Angeles founded by Norman Granz in 1953. It became part of Verve Records, which Granz created in 1956. It is the first letters of Granz's full name. Discography 10 inch LP series 12 inch L ...

in 1954) * ''

Music for Loving ''Music for Loving'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster with tracks recorded in 1954 and released by Norgran Records, Norgran in 1955. The album was reissued in 1957 by Verve Records, Verve as ''Sophisticated Lady''. In 1996 Verve ...

'' (Norgran, 1955) * '' The Art Tatum – Ben Webster Quartet'' (Verve, 1958; reissued as '' The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Volume Eight'', Pablo) * '' Soulville'' (Verve, 1958) * ''

'' (Verve, 1959) * ''

Ben Webster and Associates ''Ben Webster and Associates'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1959 for the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1959) * '' Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson'' (Verve, 1959) * ''At the Renaissance'' – with Jimmy Witherspoon and

, (HiFi Jazz, 1959 960 * '' Ben Webster at the Renaissance'' (Contemporary, 1960 985 * '' Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster'' (Verve, 1960) * '' The Soul of Ben Webster'' (Verve, 1960) * '' The Warm Moods'' (Reprise, 1961) * '' BBB & Co.'' (Swingville, 1962) – with Benny Carter and

Barney Bigard Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington. He also played tenor saxophone. Biography Bigard was born in New Orleans to Creole parents, Ale ...

* '' Wanted to Do One Together'' (Columbia, 1962) * '' Soulmates'' with Joe Zawinul (Riverside, 1963) * ''

See You at the Fair ''See You at the Fair'' is an album by jazz saxophone, saxophonist Ben Webster, released on Impulse! Records. Reception Allmusic awarded the album 5 stars with its review by Scott Yanow stating "Ben Webster's final American recording was one of ...

'' (Impulse!, 1964) * ''Intimate!'' (Fontana, 1965; recorded at the Café Montmartre, Copenhagen & reconfigured for Black Lion reissues) * ''Big Ben Time!'' (Fontana, 1967) * ''Ben Webster Meets Don Byas'' (SABA, 1968) * ''Big Sound'' (Polydor, 1969) * ''Ben Webster at Ease'' (Ember, 1969) * ''For the Guv'nor'' (Columbia, 1969) * ''Webster's Dictionary'' (Philips, 1970) * ''Ben at His Best'' (RCA Victor, 1970) * ''Atmosphere For Lovers And Thieves'' (Black Lion, 1971) * ''Autumn Leaves'' with Georges Arvanitas (Futura, 1972) * ''Swingin' in London'' (Black Lion, 1972) * '' My Man: Live at Montmartre 1973'' (

Steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

, 1973) * ''Previously Unreleased Recordings'' (Verve, 1974) * ''Saturday Night at the Montmartre'' (Black Lion, 1974; reissued on CD in expanded form as ''Stormy Weather'', Black Lion, 1989) * ''Rare Live Performance 1962'' (Musidisc, 1975) * ''Ben and the Boys'' (Jazz Archives, 1976) * ''Sunday Morning at the Montmartre'' (Black Lion, 1977; reissued in expanded form on CD as ''Gone With the Wind'', Black Lion, 1989) * ''Layin' Back with Ben Vol. 1'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Layin' Back with Ben Vol. 2'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Carol & Ben'' (Honeydew, 1977) * ''Did You Call?'' (Nessa, 1978) * ''The Horn'' (Circle, 1982) * ''Plays Duke Ellington'' (Storyville, 1988) * ''Ben Webster Plays Ballads'' (Storyville, 1988) * ''Meets Bill Coleman'' (Black Lion, 1989) * ''Live in Paris 1972'' (France's Concert, 1989) * ''Live in Amsterdam'' (Affinity, 1989) * ''The Jeep Is Jumping'' (Black Lion, 1990) * '' 1953: An Exceptional Encounter'' (The Jazz Factory, 2000)

As sideman

With

* '' The Blanton–Webster Band'' (Bluebird 1940–1942 986* ''The Great Ellington Units'' (Bluebird 1940–1941

988 Year 988 ( CMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Fall – Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6,000 Varangia ...

– Webster featured in sessions under the nominal leadership of

and Rex Stewart * '' Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band'' (3-CD set;RCA-BMG, 1940–1942 003 With Johnny Hodges * ''

The Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narra ...

'' (Norgran, 1955) * ''

Blues-a-Plenty ''Blues A-Plenty'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Verve label. Reception The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars. Track listing ''All compositio ...

'' (Verve, 1958) * '' Not So Dukish'' (Verve, 1958) With others * Count Basie, ''

String Along with Basie ''String Along with Basie'' is an album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie accompanied by a small band and string section on tracks recorded in 1959 and 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discogr ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) * Buddy Bregman, '' Swinging Kicks'' (Verve, 1957) * Benny Carter, ''

Jazz Giant ''Jazz Giant'' is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released on Norgran in 1950, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded for Norman Granz in 1949 and 1950. The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by Verve as a Verv ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) * Harry Edison, '' Sweets'' (Clef, 1956) * Harry Edison, '' Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You'' (Verve, 1957) *

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...

, ''

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings ''The Complete RCA Victor Recordings'' is a 1995 compilation 2-CD set of sessions led by Jazz trumpeter and composer Dizzy Gillespie recorded for the RCA Victor label between 1937 and 1949. Reception Writing for Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell sta ...

'' (Bluebird, 1995) *

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles ...

, '' You Better Know It!!!'' (Impulse, 1965) * Coleman Hawkins, '' Coleman Hawkins and Confrères'' (Verve, 1958) *

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, ''

Songs for Hip Lovers ''Songs for Hip Lovers'' is a 1957 vocal album by the jazz bandleader Woody Herman, arranged by Marty Paich. Recording and music The album was recorded in two sessions, in January and March 1957. The material is standards and the arrangements ar ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * Richard "Groove" Holmes, '' "Groove"'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) * Richard "Groove" Holme, '' Tell It Like It Tis'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961 el. 1966 * Illinois Jacquet, '' The Kid and the Brute'' (Clef, 1955) *

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups a ...

, ''

Let's Cook! ''Let's Cook!'' is an album by guitarist Barney Kessel recorded at sessions in 1957 but not released on the Contemporary label until 1962.

'' (Contemporary, 1962) *

Mundell Lowe James Mundell Lowe (April 21, 1922 – December 2, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist who worked often in radio, television, and film, and as a session musician. He produced film and TV scores in the 1970s, such as the '' Billy Jack'' soundtra ...

, ''

Porgy & Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', itse ...

'' (RCA Camden, 1958) *

Les McCann Leslie Coleman McCann (born September 23, 1935) is an American jazz pianist and vocalist.Feather, Leonard, and Ira Gitler (2007), ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', p. 448. Oxford University Press. Early life Les McCann was born in ...

, '' Les McCann Sings'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) * Carmen McRae, '' Birds of a Feather'' (Decca, 1958) * Oliver Nelson, ''

More Blues and the Abstract Truth ''More Blues and the Abstract Truth'' is an album by American jazz composer, conductor and arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.

'' (Impulse!, 1964) *

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

, '' The Wailing Buddy Rich'' (Norgran, 1955) *

, '' The Happy Horns of Clark Terry'' (Impulse!, 1964) * Joe Williams, '' At Newport '63'' (RCA Victor, 1963)

References

External links

* Ben Webster— by Scott Yanow, for Allmusic
"Ben Webster played a sultry Sax..."The Ben Webster FoundationThe Jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark

Ben Webster recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Ben 1909 births 1973 deaths Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Swing saxophonists American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists Mainstream jazz saxophonists Duke Ellington Orchestra members American expatriates in Denmark American expatriates in the United Kingdom American expatriates in the Netherlands Jazz musicians from Missouri Nessa Records artists Blue Note Records artists 20th-century American musicians American emigrants to Denmark Naturalised citizens of Denmark 20th-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians The Cab Calloway Orchestra members Black Lion Records artists 20th-century American male musicians