Jazz Notes: Ben and Sweets

Ben Webster and Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ben and "Sweets," originally Columbia 460613-2, 1962.

A little romantic jazz. Five old pros who in 1962 had zero left to prove but chops to burn and the music in their blood. The sound quality on the remastered Columbia recording is still excellent. I pretty much like anything Sweets Edison ever put on record—listen to the little cap he puts on "My Romance" (a particularly nice version of that one here—the Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD calls this version "very close to definitive")—and regardless of whether you love or just like Ben Webster's breathy Lester Young-ish tone and neo-Coleman-Hawkinsesque phrasing (I don't know anybody who dislikes Ben), 1/3rd* of the then-long-awaited meeting of these two swing-band veterans makes for forty very pleasant minutes of music. With George Duvivier on bass.

The only one of the quintet who doesn't stretch much is Clarence Johnston (no relation) on drums, but the cause of that impression might be that I've been listening to a lot of records led by drummers recently (like Shelley Manne's 2-3-4 which is grrrreat) where the drums are in their glory. Hank Jones on piano is particularly on form.

Ben Webster was Duke Ellington's tenor man during WWII—and he was the subject of a great album cover, a painting by Scott Gillis on an obscure Verve compilation called "Ballads" (above left. I had to buy it just for the cover art). "Sweets" Edison, a hard-cutting trumpet player who was with Count Basie for 13 years, was competitive and tended to get the best out of people he played with, if they'd rise to his challenges. Check out his record with Buddy Rich for a rollicking virtuoso one-upsmanship fest. Best thing Rich ever did. There's more collegiality than competitiveness on Ben and Sweets, though.

This isn't the absolute first Ben Webster recommendation—if you had only one Webster recording in your collection, it would have to be Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson (yes, ahead of the more famous Soulville—by just one slot). But I'd put it in the top five. Okay ten.

I love "Kitty." Go download that one song from iTunes or eMusic as a sample, if you want. Listen carefully to the sax. Deceptive.

Ben and "Sweets." Cheap ($5.94) on iTunes, very cheap ($6.99) as hard copy, and available on eMusic.

And I have to say, gentlemen, nice hats.

Mike

*They made two other records together in the same era as this one.

"Open Mike" consists of off-topic posts posted only on Sundays, just not every week.

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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Ryan Paternite: "Thanks for posting this Mike. I'm always encouraged by how many photographers (and visual artists generally) are also jazz fans. I've always particularly liked Hank Jones playing on this record. Here's a photo of Hank from his last performance at Birdland, where I work, from August 2009:

Comments

[Rob Atkins]

Ben Webster's rendition of 'Chelsea Bridge,' a sublime, perfect moment, like a Kertesz photograph.

[Ed. note: "Chelsea Bridge" was a 1941 Billy Strayhorn tune, recorded when Webster was with Ellington. Strayhorn was inspired by Whistler's painting Nocturne in Blue and Gold which actually depicts the Old Battersea Bridge. You can see a later performance (not with the Ellington Band) on YouTube.]

[nicolas]

Excellent...

I was waiting your off-topic on jazz music very much. Since "Cool Struttin' from Sonny Clark!-)

I'll go to the music store this week (I have to buy a new Ortofon head first...!-).

[Doug Brewer]

Thanks for the rec, Mike. Been looking for something new to write to. I'll check it out.

Incidentally, you can catch "A Great Day in Harlem," about the Art Kane/Esquire jazz photoshoot in 1958, on streaming Netflix now. Well worth watching.

[Jerry Lewis-Evans]

Haven't got any of the above, but "Chelsea Bridge" kicks off "Gerry Mulligan meets Ben Webster" on Verve, which is one of my favourite Jazz albums - Ben's playing is magic.

[Bron Janulis]

"Sweets", aptly named. Thanks for the introduction Mike!

[Tim Smith]

I've been looking for an opportunity to thank you for a post you made long ago that included a recommendation for Kenny Dorham (Quiet Kenny). I bought that CD on iTunes and there are a couple of tracks on that CD that are simply magnificent. It has become some of my favorite music. So attached to this post about music (which I'm sure is worthy as well) I say out loud, thank you Mike.

[Jordan]

Mike, if you haven't read the biography of Billy Strayhorn ("Lush Life" by David Hadju) you really ought to. Fascinating look at one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century... you will never listen to Ellington the same way again.

[Jeff]

The post encouraged me to pull out some vinyl after a day of football overload; and pass on Soulville to revisit Ben and Oscar. Bye Bye Blackbird hit the spot. Thanks.

[John King]

Mike, mp3va.com has some Ben Webster albums for download at .12 to .15 per track. I just bought Ben Meets Oscar for .84 total for 7 tracks and it's 320bps.

John

[Mike Johnston]

John King,
Priceless.

[g]

Mike

[WeeDram]

Mike: You are compiling a top 25 (50?) jazz albums list with a column for checking whether LP or CD is preferrable, right? RIGHT?

[Ron Weinstock]

I might suggest the Ben Webster-Art Tatum colloboration with the total contrast between Tatum's dazzling technique and Webster's solos that are almost willowy tones. While Webster played in KC with Young, I find his style more derived from Hawkins with a vibrato basic to his playing that was the antithesis of Young's tone. Incidentally, I would recommend Marc Myers jazz blog, jazz wax.com.

Also I am looking forward to getting the recently issued book of Herman Leonard's Jazz Photographs, which I would think you would find interesting. I type this listening to Wardell Gray.

[Ryan Paternite]

Thanks for posting this Mike.

I'm always encouraged by how many photographers (and visual artists generally) are also jazz fans.

I've always particularly liked Hank Jones playing on this record. Here's a photo of Hank from his last performance at Birdland, where I work, from August 2009:

http://www.birdlandjazz.com/hankjones.html

Enjoy,
Ryan

[Tjswobodasr]

Mike,

I have a compilation CD called Gerry Mulligan Meets the Saxophonists (Verve 827436) which includes Ben Webster and Johnny Hodges on all the cuts and Stan Getz, Paul Desmond and Zoot Sims on a few cuts. Mulligan is my favorite all time saxophonist but the others are some of the all time greats. Great listening.

Tom Swoboda

[Pete Young]

My favorite small 35 mm camera is the Rollei 35 introduced in 1966. The lens collapses into the body for carrying purposes. Shoots full-frame 35 mm film. Zeiss lenses. Now a collectors item.