Ben Webster Ben Webster & Associates Low Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2LP #45-55

Out Of Print! Warehouse Find!
Low Serial Numbers #45-55!

While it is difficult to single out just one of the musicians, it is easy to distinguish them: Ben (called "The Brute") plays with a raspy, vibrating sound; Coleman (known as "The Bear") is a master of flowing swing; and Budd has an earthy, resonant bluesy sound. The five numbers reflect the jam-like spontaneity of the 1959 session; an Ellington classic by the three in a masterful, inspirational new interpretation; three pieces which are intrinsically ad hoc improvisations; and a classical ballad in which Ben Webster breathes warmth and sentiment into his instrument.

Ben Webster and Associates is a 1959 session that took full advantage of the long-playing LP format. Highlighted by the 20-minute version of Ellington's 'In a Mellow Tone' in which tenor titans Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and Budd Johnson plus trumpeter Roy Eldridge stretch out, not so much in a cutting contest as a laid-back jam session amongst friends. This summit meeting turned out to be a tribute to another tenor master of the same generation, Lester Young, who had died less than four weeks before this session. The chosen rhythm section of Jimmy Jones on piano, Les Spann on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Jo Jones on drums equally matches the performance of the featured horns. Also tackled for this session were three Webster originals: 'De-Dar,' 'Young Bean,' and 'Budd Johnson' and the standard 'Time After Time.'

Wow! Look at the front line of saxes! ...In spite of the tendency of early stereo sessions to be all left and right with a big hole in the middle, the three saxes are evenly laid out across the terrific soundstage. There's little difficulty in identifying the unique styles of the three saxists. Ben was playing in the Ellington band when In a Mellow Tone was premiere in 1940. It's my personal favorite of the five tracks. There's a knockout bass solo by steadfast Ray Brown, and Leslie Spann achieves Django-like octave playing on his great solo. Ben's deep and rich solo near the end is something to behold.

And the sonics…What can I say? You can easily ignore the fine print on the album: "Unfortunately, some technical defects made cannot be completely eliminated with diminishing parts of the music." Certainly couldn't hear a one in this 53-year-old recording...beautifully remastered at the ultimate two-channel format of 45 rpm vinyl