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Famous Like Me > Actor > W > Ben Webster

Profile of Ben Webster on Famous Like Me

 
Name: Ben Webster  
   
Also Know As:
   
Date of Birth: 27th March 1909
   
Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
   
Profession: Actor
 
 
From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia
This article is about Ben Webster, the musician. For the Canadian politician, see Ben Webster (politician). For the Canadian businessman, see Ben Webster (businessman)

Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 - September 20, 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ben Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he would play with warmth and sentiment. Webster learned to play piano and violin at an early age, before learning to play the saxophone. Once Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster began to play that instrument in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).

In 1940 Ben Webster became the first major tenor soloist of Duke Ellington's orchestra. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including "Cotton Tail" and "All Too Soon." After three productive years of playing with Ellington, Webster left the band in an angry altercation, during which he cut up one of Ellington's suits. After leaving Ellington in 1943, Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s.

Webster recorded a classic set with pianist Art Tatum and generally worked steadily, but in 1964 he moved permanently to join other American jazz musicians in Copenhagen, Denmark where he played when he pleased during his last decade. Although not all that flexible, Webster could swing with the best, and his tone was a later influence on such diverse players as Archie Shepp, Lew Tabackin, Scott Hamilton, David Murray, and Bennie Wallace.

Ben Webster died in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1973 and was interred in the Assistens Kirkegård in the Nørrebro section of Copenhagen.

External Links

  • The African American Registry - Ben Webster played a sultry Sax...

Samples

  • Download sample of "Blue Sky" by Ben Webster

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Ben Webster