• Name: Ben Webster
• Birthday: 03/27/1909
• Birth Place: Kansas City, MO
• Died: 09/20/1973
• Decades Active: 1930,1940,1950,1960,1970
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Swing, Traditional Pop, Mainstream Jazz
• Moods: Amiable/Good-Natured, Earthy, Exuberant, Joyous, Complex, Elegant, Freewheeling, Passionate, Stylish, Boisterous, Gentle

Title	Release
1953-1954 WA	04/22/2008
Ben Webster [B.D. Jazz]	12/20/2006
Complete Quintet Studio Sessions WA	10/09/2006
Complete Sextet Studio Sessions WA	10/09/2006
Storyville Ben Webster	07/11/2006
Tenderly	02/20/2006
The Recordings of a Jazz Legend	02/07/2006
Confirmation	10/17/2005
The Two Sides of the Great Tenor: 1932-1951	10/11/2005
Warm and Mighty Ben	07/12/2005
Blue Skies	05/17/2005
Ben Webster for Lovers	01/25/2005
Definitive Columbia Best Recordings	08/03/2004
Ben Webster with the Mike Renzi Trio	2004
Complete 1953 Leader Studio Sessions	11/25/2003
At Montmartre 1965-1966	2003
Bounce Blues [Past Perfect]	12/04/2002
The Alternative Takes: 1944	10/22/2002
1946-1951 WA	10/02/2002
52nd Street Days	2002
All Too Soon	2002
Cotton Tail [Proper]	2002
Stardust	2002
Ben & Teddy	12/07/2001
Jazz After Hours	05/01/2001
1953: An Exceptional Encounter	02/13/2001
Ben Webster's Finest Hour WA	09/26/2000
Frog	02/15/2000
Quiet Now: Until Tonight	01/25/2000
Gentle Ben WA	12/14/1999
Rehearsal Sessions: No Fool, No Fun	07/13/1999
In Copenhagen	05/11/1999
Victory Stride/Swing Sessions	04/08/1999
1944-1946 WA	01/12/1999
Frog: 1956-1962	09/15/1998
Ultimate Ben Webster WA	08/25/1998
1931-1946	02/03/1998
Cotton Tail	08/12/1997
Jammin' With Ben Webster	07/14/1997
Story 1937-1944	12/17/1996
My Romance	02/20/1996
Perdido	10/03/1995
Birdland 1952	10/1995
The Soul of Ben Webster/Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You/Blues a Plenty WA	05/23/1995
Ben and Buck [Sackville] WA	1995
Bounce Blues [Blue Moon] WA	1995
Evolution	1995
Music for Loving	1995
The Best of Ben Webster 1931-1944	1995
1944: The Horn	08/12/1994
Autumn Leaves	02/01/1994
Jazz 'Round Midnight: Ben Webster	1993
Compact Jazz: Ben Webster	1992
Hooked on Dixie	07/01/1991
For the Guv'nor (Tribute to Duke Ellington)	05/26/1969
Ben Meets Don Byas	02/01/1968
Meets Don Byas in the Black Forest	02/01/1968
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 5 WA	1968
Plays Ballads WA	07/14/1967
Plays Duke Ellington	07/14/1967
Meets Bill Coleman	04/27/1967
Big Ben Time	01/11/1967
The Jeep Is Jumping	09/13/1965
There Is No Greater Love	09/05/1965
Gone with the Wind	01/31/1965
Stormy Weather	01/30/1965
See You at the Fair	03/11/1964
Soulmates	09/20/1963
Ben and Sweets	06/06/1962
At the Renaissance	10/14/1960
The Warm Moods	01/18/1960
Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson WA	11/06/1959
Ben Webster and Associates WA	1959
Tenor Giants	10/16/1957
Soulville	10/15/1957
King of the Tenors	05/21/1953
Verve Jazz Masters 43 WA	12/21/1951
The Complete Ben Webster on Emarcy (1951-1953)	12/19/1951
Ben and the Boys	02/08/1944
Days of Wine & Roses

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).

In 1940 (after short stints in 1935 and 1936), Ben Webster became Duke Ellington's first major tenor soloist. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including "Cotton Tail" (which in addition to his memorable solo had a saxophone ensemble arranged by Webster) and "All Too Soon." After leaving Ellington in 1943 (he would return for a time in 1948-1949), Webster worked on 52nd Street; 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. Although his sound was considered out-of-style by that decade, Webster's work on ballads became quite popular and Norman Granz recorded him on many memorable sessions. Webster recorded a classic set with Art Tatum and generally worked steadily, but in 1964 he moved permanently to Copenhagen 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, and Bennie Wallace. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide