The Ben Webster Quintet – Soulville (1957) [Analogue Productions 2013] SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

The Ben Webster Quintet – Soulville (1957) [Analogue Productions 2013]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 40:43 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 1,65 GB
or DSD64 2.0 Mono (from SACD-ISO to Tracks.dsf) > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Front/Rear Covers | 1,62 GB
or FLAC Mono (carefully converted & encoded to tracks) 24bit/48 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 404 MB

Soulville is one of the highlights of Ben Webster’s golden era. From 1953 to 1959 Webster recorded 10 landmark albums showcasing his swing tenor saxophone, and this album from 1957 is considered a classic. Soulville has it all: there’s cool groovy jazz, a bit of soul, a bit of blues, a sense of longing and a whole lot of romance on this ballad-heavy collection. The quintet in the credits consists of Webster, drummer Stan Levey and the Oscar Peterson Trio.

(more…)

Read more

Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster – Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster (1959/2014) DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster – Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster (1959/2014)
DSF DSD64 | Time – 00:36:33 minutes | 1,49 GB | Source: SACD ISO
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192kHz  | Time – 00:36:33 minutes | 1,51 GB | Source: acousticsounds.com
Genre: Jazz | The Verve Music Group

Ben Webster emulated the big, breathy saxophone style of his influence, Coleman Hawkins. When the two legendary tenor sax players joined forces on this historic 1957 recording, the results were magical. The two players show off how they can swing and yet display sensitivity playing the beautiful melodies of the mid-tempo ballads, backed by an incredible rhythm section starring Oscar Peterson on piano along with Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on double bass and drummer Alvin Stoller. Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster combines standards by Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and Rodgers and Hart with a raunchy Hawkins original tune, Blues For Yolande that turns into a tenor sax duel between Hawkins and Webster. This album has been released in some countries under the title Blue Saxophones.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – The Soul Of Ben Webster (1959/2014) DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Ben Webster – The Soul Of Ben Webster (1959/2014)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,8 MHz | Time – 45:01 minutes | 1,77 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 45:01 minutes | 879 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download  | Artwork: Digital booklet | Genre: Jazz
Source: AcousticSounds  | @ Analogue Productions (Verve)

The Soul of Ben Webster is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1958 for the Verve label. This is a blowing session that matches the matchless jazz tenor sax master with fellow tenorist Harold Ashby in a program of loose originals.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster Quintet – Soulville (1957/2013) DSF DSD64

Ben Webster Quintet – Soulville (1957/2013)
DSF 2.0 Mono DSD64/2.82MHz | Time – 00:40:58 minutes | 1,62 GB | Genre: Jazz
Source: ISO SACD | © Verve Records, Analogue Productions
Recorded: October 15, 1957

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project.

Soulville is quintessential Ben Webster: intimate, tender, endlessly expressive. Webster was internationally recognized as one of jazz’s elder statesman when he recorded this album in 1957, but the youthful fire that had marked his playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra two decades earlier was undiminished. Leading a stellar combo through a program consisting mostly of vintage pop tunes, the great tenor saxophonist is at his peak. And this reissue includes three rare recordings of Webster on piano, the first instrument he played as a young professional musician.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Gentle Ben (1973/2012) DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Ben Webster – Gentle Ben (1973/2012)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,8 MHz | Time – 45:01 minutes | 2,33 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 45:01 minutes | 0,99 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download  | Artwork: Digital booklet | Genre: Jazz
Source: AcousticSounds  | © Analogue Productions (Verve)

This recording was made 10 months before Ben Webster’s death in 1972. Webster, who had left the United States in 1965 to settle in Europe – first in Copenhagen and then in Amsterdam – was visiting fellow musician and friend Tete Montoliu in Barcelona. Webster and pianist Montoliu went back a ways, having played together regularly in Webster’s Copenhagen days. In fact, Montoliu cited Webster and Don Byas as his two chief musical influences. Webster and Montoliu understood each other deeply, and their comfort with on another is palpable in this recording. Their accompaniment of one another is seamless. On board with these two is Montoliu’s regular working trio-mates, Eric Peter on bass and Peer Wyboris on drums.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Come Sunday (2017) DSF DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC

Ben Webster – Come Sunday (2017)
DSD128 (.dsf) 1 bit/5,6 MHz MHz | Time – 40:24 minutes | 3,18 GB
or FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 40:24 minutes | 658 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | 2xHD – Storyville Records

Ben Webster was not exactly under-recorded during his forty-year playing career but he is among that exclusive hierarchy of jazz artists to whose consistent excellence there can never be an over-abundance of recorded testimony. This album has the merit of offering a nicely balanced and thoughtfully chosen selection of tracks. Four of the tunes are associated with Duke Ellington in whose saxophone section Ben was featured for more than ten years. Our Blues is a choice example of Ben’s evocative after-hours style of blues playing. An additional bonus is the superior quality of the musicians behind Webster on all these tracks, recorded in Copenhagen between 1968 and 1970.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (2018) DSF DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC

Ben Webster – Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (2018)
DSD128 (.dsf) 1 bit/5,6 MHz | Time – 47:22 minutes | 3,73 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 47:22 minutes | 932 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks | Artwork: Digital booklet | © 2xHD – Storyville Records

This album is a collection of classic melodies from the repertoire of Ben Webster’s famous employer of many years, Duke Ellington. The album is compromised of three live radio sessions with the Danish Radio Big Band In 1969 & 1971, plus three live concert sessions with three different backing-trios (Finland in 1967, Denmark in 1969 and Sweden in 1972). Two of the tracks – with Clark Terry, Kenny Drew, Red Mitchell and Bobby Brooks – are previously unissued. Aside from one tune. All the performances with the Danish Radio Big Band are Based on Ellington’s original scores. The quartet sessions are also great, including two “reunions” – one with Ben’s boss from the early 30’s, Teddy Wilson, and the other with fellow Ellington alumnus Clark Terry. That Ben Webster was one of the undisputed jazz-greats on the tenor saxophone- both in a big band and small group context – is amply demonstrated on this fine recordings.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Ballads (2017) DSF DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC

Ben Webster – Ballads (2017)
DSD128 (.dsf) 1 bit/5,6 MHz | Time – 42:25 minutes | 3,35 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 42:25 minutes | 688 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Source: ProStudioMasters | Digital booklet | Genre: Jazz | © 2xHD

Swing tenor saxophone player Ben Webster earned the nickname “The Brute and the Beautiful” in jazz circles where his musical versatility was well-known. Webster’s signature tough, raspy and gruff tone softened on ballads, which he played with warmth and sentiment. On this Storyville release he caresses seven timeless melodies in a variety of settings including trios with either Teddy Wilson, Ole Kock Hansen or Kenny Drew on piano, backing by The Danish Radio Big Band (on “Cry Me a River”) or a version of “Greensleeves” with a string orchestra. Although largely forgotten in the United States (he had moved to Europe in 1965), Ben Webster was still in fine form this late in his career.

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster, Oscar Peterson – Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (1959/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Ben Webster, Oscar Peterson - Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (1959/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Ben Webster, Oscar Peterson – Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (1959/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 36:54 minutes | 1,64 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Verve Reissues

Saxophonist Ben Webster is joined by legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. Webster, known for his association with Duke Ellington’s Jazz Orchestra playing lead tenor, frequently played with Peterson in the 1950s and are joined here by some of the best jazz musicians of the time. Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson was originally released in 1959, and this studio album is a compilation of seven great jazz tracks, including “How Deep is the Ocean,” “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” and “Bye, Bye, Blackbird.”
(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Come Sunday (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Ben Webster - Come Sunday (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Ben Webster – Come Sunday (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:23 minutes | 1,29 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD – Storyville Records

Legendary tenor saxophone player Ben Webster’s tender, emotive ballad playing coupled with his vivacious, growling uptempo swing numbers made him one of the most well-loved and versatile jazz musicians of his time. This release covers both sides of Webster’s personality with numbers like You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, Come Sunday, Stompy Jones and Cottontail.
(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Ben Webster - Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Ben Webster – Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 47:22 minutes | 1,69 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD – Storyville Records

For many people Ben Webster is indelibly linked with the name of Duke Ellington. Ben had a long and distinguished career, of which his work with Duke was only a small part, but the crucial exposure just as he reached musical maturity was given by Ellington, and that maturity was hastened by the challenge of playing with Ellington. Yet he also gave a lot to the band and to the continuing Ellington tradition.

In other words, he created the role of the tenor saxophone with Duke. Before he joined for his longest stay (in January 1940), there had been no expectation of significant tenor contributions – despite Ben’s previous brief encounters in 1935 and 1936. But, in far less time than the 3 ½ years he remained, Ben had made the tenor an Ellingtonian voice almost as strong as Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney on alto and baritone. His departure left a huge hole in Duke’s music, which was filled by a series of heavyweight soloists including Al Sears, Jimmy Forrest, Don Byas, Ben again, and the great Paul Gonsalves.
(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Ballads (Remastered) (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Ben Webster - Ballads (Remastered) (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Ben Webster – Ballads (Remastered) (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 42:30 minutes | 1,34 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD

Swing tenor saxophone player Ben Webster earned the nickname “The Brute and the Beautiful” in jazz circles where his musical versatility was well-known. Webster’s signature tough, raspy and gruff tone softened on ballads, which he played with warmth and sentiment. This release presents the romantic side of Webster, showcasing some of his most impressive sessions from the 1950s, accompanied by Billy Strayhorn, Teddy Wilson and Jimmy Hamilton.
(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – 25 Essentials of Ben Webster (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Ben Webster - 25 Essentials of Ben Webster (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Ben Webster – 25 Essentials of Ben Webster (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:12:34 minutes | 1,19 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BnF Collection

Ben Webster was considered one of the “big three” of 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 turn into a pussy cat and play with warmth and sentiment. After violin lessons as a child, Webster learned how to play rudimentary piano (his neighbor Pete Johnson taught him to play blues). But after Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster played sax in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). He had stints with Jap Allen and Blanche Calloway (making his recording debut with the latter) before joining Bennie Moten’s Orchestra in time to be one of the stars on a classic session in 1932. 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).
(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – Gentle Ben (1972/2011) [Official Digital Download DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz]

Ben Webster – Gentle Ben (1972/2011)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz  | Time – 00:56:18 minutes | 2,22 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: acousticsounds.com | © Ensayo
Recorded: November 28, 1972, in Barcelona, Spain

This recording was made 10 months before Ben Webster’s death in 1972. Webster, who had left the United States in 1965 to settle in Europe – first in Copenhagen and then in Amsterdam – was visiting fellow musician and friend Tete Montoliu in Barcelona. Webster and pianist Montoliu went back a ways, having played together regularly in Webster’s Copenhagen days. In fact, Montoliu cited Webster and Don Byas as his two chief musical influences. Webster and Montoliu understood each other deeply, and their comfort with on another is palpable in this recording. Their accompaniment of one another is seamless. On board with these two is Montoliu’s regular working trio-mates, Eric Peter on bass and Peer Wyboris on drums.

“Ah, that unique, highly individual sound of Ben Webster’s sax, and nearly an hour’s worth of it – in top-flight SACD sonics yet! The original session dates from November of 1972 in Barcelona, Spain, and Ben is front and center throughout – his every note and breath standing out in 3D.” –John Henry, Audiophile Audition, September 2011

(more…)

Read more

Ben Webster – The Soul Of Ben Webster (1960/2014) [DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz]

Ben Webster – The Soul Of Ben Webster (1960/2014)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz| Time – 00:44:59 minutes | 1,78 GB | Genre: Jazz
Source: ISO SACD| © Verve Records, Analogue Productions
Recorded: July, 1958, New York City

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project.
“I really think that the people who are willing to lay down their money for these reissues are going to get something really outstanding.” — George Marino, Sterling Sound engineer, commenting on Analogue Productions’ Verve 25-title reissue series.
A blowing session that matches the matchless jazz tenor sax master with fellow tenorist Harold Ashby in a program of loose originals.
Recorded in 1958 and released the following year on Verve, The Soul of Ben Webster is a superb example of swinging mainstream jazz and bop. Webster is in fine form throughout, as are his fellow musicians including trumpeter Art Farmer, bassist Milt Hinton, pianist Jimmy Jones, and others. –Matt Collar

(more…)

Read more
%d bloggers like this: