Benjamin Francis Webster (1909-1973) was one of the most charismatic tenor saxophonists in the history of Jazz and an incomparable master of the ballad. His hometown Kansas City was also the birthplace of “Swing” in the 1930s, and important musicians such as Benny Moten, Count Basie and Lester Young started their careers here.

Webster joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1940-43, which also featured legendary bassist Jimmy Blanton. This “Webster-Blanton Band” is considered to be a highlight in Ellington’s career and an important step in Webster’s. After this, “The Brute” worked mainly in smaller groups, sometimes recorded by producer Norman Granz who paired him with pianist Oscar Peterson.

In addition to wonderful ballad programmes with strings, Ben Webster recorded many successful albums alongside other Jazz stars like Coleman Hawkins, Art Tatum, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan and Gene Krupa. He also excelled as a companion and soloist with jazz singers, as the original albums with Billie Holiday and Jimmy Witherspoon documented here prove.