Almost 25 years into his recording career, tenor saxophonist
Ben Webster made a series of studio recordings under the supervision of producer
Norman Granz. These marvelous performances were reissued in chronological sequence by the Classics label in 2008. Each volume of
Ben Webster on Classics is richly packed with satisfying ballads, blues, and swing. This installment borders between superb and divine. Three titles recorded for Mercury on January 22, 1953, find
Webster soloing in front of an orchestra conducted by
Johnny Richards, a student of
Arnold Schoenberg who served as an arranger for
Stan Kenton. Recorded at sessions that took place in April and December 1953, tracks four through 12 were originally released on the Norgran album King of the Tenors. The collective personnel from these dates is typical of the
Granz "embarrassment of riches" approach, for here were trumpeter
Harry "Sweets" Edison, alto saxophonist
Benny Carter, pianist
Oscar Peterson, guitarists
Barney Kessel and
Herb Ellis, bassist
Ray Brown, and drummer
J.C. Heard. Tracks 13-16 were recorded on March 30, 1954, with the assistance of pianist
Teddy Wilson, bassist
Ray Brown, and drummers
Alvin Stoller and
Jo Jones. This material, along with the rest of the titles on the collection, formed the Verve album Music for Loving. On tracks 17-21,
Ben Webster interprets sensuous ballads backed by
the Ralph Burns Orchestra. In addition to a string section, the ensemble included clarinetist
Tony Scott, bassist
George Duvivier, drummer
Louis Bellson, and composer/pianist/arranger
Billy Strayhorn. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide