Ben Webster - Cotton Tail

Title: Cotton Tail Artist: Ben Webster Release Date: 8/12/1997 Re-Released On: 11/27/2002 Label: Past Perfect (UK), RCA Victor Records Duration: 68:28 Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 4011222057655, 078636679020 Genre: Jazz Styles: Swing, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz Moods: Amiable/Good-Natured, Earthy, Exuberant, Joyous, Complex, Elegant, Freewheeling, Passionate, Stylish, Boisterous, Gentle Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Cotton Tail
2. All Too Soon
3. Toby
4. Lafayette
5. The Voice of Old Man River
6. Early Session Hop
7. Conga Brava
8. Bojangles
9. My Greatest Mistake
10. Chloe
11. Mobile Bay
12. Linger Awhile
13. Blue Serge
14. Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
15. Some Saturday
16. Five O'Clock Drag
17. Chelsea Bridge
18. Rain Check
19. Perdido [#]
20. What Am I Here For?
21. Main Stem
22. Cadillac Slim

Year Type Label Catalog # 2002 CD Past Perfect (UK) 205765 1997 CD RCA Victor Records 66790

No other editions were found for this album.

Ben Webster was one of the great pre-bop tenor saxophonists, ranking just below Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young (with whose family band he had played early on) in importance. This 1997 CD has highlights from the first half of Webster's career, but it is a rather frivolous release. All of the music (14 selections from a two-year period with Duke Ellington, three songs from Rex Stewart's small group from the Ellington band, two tunes with Bennie Moten in 1932, and a song apiece with Willie Bryant, Lionel Hampton, and Benny Carter in 1946) is currently available elsewhere. No rarities are included, except for perhaps the 1946 rendition of "Cadillac Slim." Webster is heard throughout at his best, but since he did not record for Victor as a leader, he is just one of many top sidemen. While the set is filled with classics (including "Cotton Tail," "All Too Soon," "Bojangles," "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'," and "Chelsea Bridge"), one wishes that RCA had spent their time and resources making more obscure music available instead. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Grey Trombone Arnold Adams Guitar Barney Bigard Reeds Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Bennie Moten Performer Benny Carter Sax (Alto), Arranger Big Sid Catlett Drums Billy Strayhorn Arranger, Piano Buck Clayton Trumpet Charlie Christian Guitar Christine Chagnon Design Chu Berry Sax (Tenor) Clyde Hart Piano Coleman Hawkins Sax (Tenor) Cootie Williams Trumpet Count Basie Piano Cozy Cole Drums Dan Minor Trombone Dee Stewart Trumpet Dennis Ferrante Digital Mastering Dizzy Gillespie Trumpet Duke Ellington Piano Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Performer Eddie Barefield Reeds Eddie Durham Trombone, Arranger, Guitar Edgar Battle Trumpet, Trombone (Valve) Ernest "Bass" Hill Bass Frank Driggs Photography Fred Guy Guitar George Matthews Trombone Glyn Paque Reeds Harry Carney Reeds Harry White Arranger Hot Lips Page Trumpet Jack Washington Reeds Jimmy Blanton Bass Joe Keyes Trumpet Joe Tricky Sam Nanton Trombone John Haughton Trombone John Simmons Bass Johnny Hodges Reeds Johnny Russell Reeds Juan Tizol Trombone (Valve) Junior Raglin Bass Lawrence Brown Trombone Leroy Berry Guitar Lionel Hampton Vibraphone Loren Schoenberg Liner Notes Milt Hinton Bass Orrin Keepnews Reissue Producer Otis Johnson Trumpet Otto Hardwick Reeds Ray Nance Trumpet, Violin Rex Stewart Performer, Cornet Richard Clark Trumpet Robert Horton Trombone Roger "Ram" Ramirez Piano Scott Johnson Art Direction Sonny Greer Drums Sonny White Piano Stanley Payne Reeds Steve Baker Executive Producer Steve Gates Producer Wallace Jones Trumpet Willie Bryant Director, Vocals