Search - Ben Webster :: Warm Moods [Collectables]

Ben Webster

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 12/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This material was initially issued on a Reprise LP in 1961 and seems to have been designed to feature Ben Webster's gorgeous ballad playing. Ben is accompanied by a small string section on the 12 tunes that are never taken beyond medium tempo. Although his playing is fairly straight and the short track timings never give him a chance to stretch out, Webster is an absolute delight on this album. On the medium-tempo numbers he does open up a bit, usually improvising for a chorus or so, which only adds to the music's worth. The string section never intrudes and never comes across sappy; Johnny Richards did the arranging and he did an excellent job: the string section arrangement on THE SWEETHEARTS OF SIGMA CHI is totally compelling. "Warm Moods" is the perfect title for this album: Ben's tenor playing is not just warm and lyrical, it also captures the moods of a man playing passionately and with strong conviction. Definitely worth checking out."

Great Webster lowsy strings

Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 06/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Need more explainin'? The title of my comment summs it up. To burden such a subtle and emotional player with strings is simply wrong, in my humble opinion.

I mean, it might work thoretically, but here it doesn't.

Well, Ben is in a great form nevertheless, I still liked the CD and I guess the strings might stretch the audience of this album beyond jazz...

Judge for yourself..."