Release Date: 05 July 2019
Label: State Of Art
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 8436569194386
Genres: Jazz
Description
Ben Webster had already enjoyed an extensive music career by the time these recordings were made. However, he still wasn't known for the sensual ballad feeling that would become his trademark over the last two decades of his life.
In the earlier days of his career he was best known for the hard blowing fast tenor sax he exhibited playing with either the Duke Ellington orchestra or with his own multiple small groups. The ballad sets included here mark almost the beginning of Webster's new musical direction. They were originally issued on two LPs, titled 'Music with Feeling' and 'Music for Loving', which compile the results of four different sessions. Three of these dates were big band/string efforts one conducted by Billy Strayhorn (who also played the piano) and two by Ralph Burns. The fourth session consisted of four quartet tunes. All of this music was brought together shortly after Ben Webster's death in 1973 and reissued on a 2-LP set as 'Ballads'. It was under this title that these already successful recordings became true classics.
This CD compiles the three big band sessions in their entirety. It also includes an interesting quartet version of Almost Like Being in Love recorded at the Billy Strayhorn date which completes the session (it wasn't included on the original album Music for Loving, nor on Ballads). However, due to time limitations State of Art were forced to omit two quartet selections from the last session with Teddy Wilson (Love's Away and You're Mine, You!), which originally rounded out the two aforementioned LP's.
Tracklisting
Ahmad Jamal Trio
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
Etta James
Joao Gilberto
Ben Webster
Thelonious Monk
Billie Holiday
Elvis Presley
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
