Black Lion Ben Webster
L. Topper | 08/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These Black Lion Ben Webster recordings are the best of his late career recordings when he moved to Europe. You will have a hard time finding any of his late recordings in better form with better sound and better atmosphere. Webster is really hopping and the rhythm section fits him perfectly.
In Webster's late career, he had a relatively small book of songs that he played over and over again. I have lots of his recordings. I am a fanatic collector of jazz recordings and I can tell you that if you got these three recordings reissued on the "1201 Music" labelwhich is distributed by Allegro Corporation, you would have a very enjoyable collection of Ben Webster.
What makes these recordings so special is that he is playing with a really delightful trio of musicians which play in a modern bop style which (to my ears) makes it more interesting and listenable than a 4-beat swing style rhythm section. The sound is great and the performance has lots of atmosphere. Get all three recordings (which are cheap--especially from Amazon Marketplace) before they are gone. Some appear to only be available from Amazon as used discs. They appear to be on their way out for now."
Another reissue of "Live at Jazzhaus"
James | Indianapolis, IN United States | 12/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Gone With the Wind" and "Stormy Weather" are reissues of "Live at the Jazzhaus" Vols. 1 & 2 (1965). Along with "The Jeep is Jumping" (also 1965) they constitute Webster"s best later work after having moved to Europe. The reissues have a better sound than the "...Jazzhaus" volumes. The program includes many of the standard ballads associated with Webster. There is never a dull performance. Webster, like Ellington, just kept getting better with age. Webster plays with one of the leading bands in Europe at the time, the Alex Riel Trio comprised of Kenny Drew on piano, Alex Riel on drums and the amazing Nils Henning Orsted Penderson on bass."