Storyville Ben Webster

Personnel: Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Ole Molin (guitar); Borge Madsen, Per Ludolph, Erling Christensen, Holger Bjerre, Mogens Holm Larsen, Stanley Carlson, Anton Kontra, Aage Bertelsen, Ove Winther, Kurt J. Jensen, Finn Ziegler (strings); Dexter Gordon (reeds, tenor saxophone); Bent Juul Nielsen, Jesper Thilo, Sahib Shihab, Uffe Karskov (reeds); Allan Botschinsky, Palle Mikkelborg, Palle Bolvig, Perry Knudsen (trumpet); Torolf Molgaard, Per Espersen, Ole Kurt Jensen, Axel Windfel (trombone); Bent Schjærff, Ole Kock Hansen (piano); Albert "Tootie" Heath, Bjarne Rostvold, Ole Streenberg (drums).
Liner Note Author: The Mike Hennessey Chastet.
Recording information: Copenhagen, Denmark (07/14/1967-09/25/1970); Flensborghus, Flensborg, Germany (07/14/1967-09/25/1970); Odd Fellow Palæet, Copenhagen, Denmark (07/14/1967-09/25/1970); Pori Jazz Festival, Finland (07/14/1967-09/25/1970); Vallekilde Hoejskole, Denmark (07/14/1967-09/25/1970).
Director: Niels Jorgen Steen.
Photographer: Jan Persson.
Unknown Contributor Role: Makaya Ntsoko.
This 13-cut set in the Storyville Masters of Jazz series is a showcase of Ben Webster at the very end of his career, from 1967-1970 recorded in Europe. There are a number of stellar players on Storyville Ben Webster, including Dexter Gordon, Palle Mikkelborg, Tootie Heath, and of course, a slew of European sessions players who are truly the cream of the crop. Webster is featured in numerous settings from trio, quartet, quintet, and larger, to units where he is backed by a small string section. Of all the swing and bop era saxophonists, Charlie Parker included, no one blew over string sections like Webster. His lyricism is so utterly tender and understated that he literally trounces all other players who did sessions like this. Check cuts like "Come Sunday" or the other ballads here, such as "Old Folks," "In a Mellotone," and "Going Home." This set is one of those special cases where a recording makes the case that a truly seasoned veteran goes out at the top of his game, rather than in decline. ~ Thom Jurek