Ben Webster

[Durium]

Ben Webster lived the last years of his life in Amsterdam, pampered by his landlady Mrs. Hartlooper, who didn't speak his language and communicated in broken English: Is lekker the keek …. En de kaffee .. Lekker water …. (= You like the cake? And the coffee? Nice fresh water?). She's like a mother to me, Ben says in the Johan Van Der Keuken film "Big Ben". Living in an Amsterdam apartment, playing his music ( Fats Waller's stride on a noisy LP), making home movies, visiting the Amsterdam Zoo, playing his billiards and a gig now and then, this documentary fascinates.

Ben At his Best: Ben Webster's Last Years in Holland

Durium

Edited February 14, 2011 by Durium

[AllenLowe]

great film, thanks for mentioning.

[Dan Gould]

Speaking of late-period Webster, I recently stumbled across Gentle Ben, recorded in 1972, with Tete Montoliu. A must-have for Webster fans.

[Chuck Nessa]

I issued Gentle Ben on lp under the title Did You Call? in 1978.

[Dan Gould]

How ironic, Chuck - if you remember I wanted to buy that from you a few years ago. Great LP for sure.

[brownie]

I issued Gentle Ben on lp under the title Did You Call? in 1978.

What was wrong with the original title? Any poblem with Gentle Ben?

[Chuck Nessa]

Gentle Ben was the name of a children's tv show in the US.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Chuck Nessa

[brownie]

Figures

[JSngry]

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

how did u decide to issue this ben webster lp, Chuck. did you then have to buy a copy of the master tape, and you used this to press your edition? was it at first just in europe, and you brought it to the US.

[Durium]

On the 6th of September 1973 history was written in the Twee Spieghels in Leiden (The Netherlands), although no-one realized that. An old, weary and a bit merry tenor saxophone player Ben Webster, tried to survive in rather noisy circumstances - an evening to forget .... if it hadn't been so special - it happened to be Ben's last public performance. Almost forty years later, on the same day, and the same spot, almost the same rhythm section joined in for a jam to commemorate this historical concert.

Ben Webster's last concert at the Twee Spieghels

Durium

[mjzee]

Does anyone here know about these two recordings, spotted on Amazon UK?

(The description of volume 2 from Amazon:) Recorded live at Ronnie Scotts in 1964, here is the second set from tenor giant Ben Webster's first appearance at the club, backed by Stan Tracey's 'in-house' trio. The second in a trilogy of Ben Webster/Stan Tracey previously unissued recordings it has been digitally re-mastered from the original tape reel.

"The music here has lain unheard on the original tape reel for 48 years and has never been released in any format, making it a remarkable rediscovery". Simon Spillett's informative liner notes once again put the people and the era into context.

The superb recording quality of Volume 2 of Soho Nights perfectly captures the atmosphere of the club in its old home in Gerrard Street with announcements by Ronnie Scott as MC, making it an historic CD not to be missed.

Personnel: Ben Webster (tenor saxophone), Stan Tracey (piano), Rick Laird (bass), Jackie Dougan (drums)

Note that I did not see a volume 3.

Edited April 1, 2013 by mjzee

[clifford_thornton]

Nice - will have to be on the lookout.

[marcello]

Yes, I have SOHO Nights Vo.1 and the music is very good. The sound is fine also.

[sidewinder]

Must be another of those Les Tomkins recordings.

[fasstrack]

Does anyone know about recordings of Webster with a Dutch pianist named Cees Slinger? I believe he's still alive and living near The Hague. I heard something on a Ben Webster special on WKCR. It was a live concert, not sure where or when, but I'm guessing it was in Holland.

Anyone?

Edited April 2, 2013 by fasstrack

[Dan Gould]

I could be wrong but I think he's the pianist on For the Guv'nor. I think he also recorded with Dexter.

[Don Brown]

There are six albums on which Ben and Cees Slinger play together:

Then and Now from 1965 on Challenge

Ben Webster and Don byas 1968 on Rarities

Live in Amsterdam 1969 on Affinity

For the Guv'nor 1969 on Imperial

Ben op Zijn Best 1970 on Westside

Wayfaring Webster 1970 on Daybreak

[fasstrack]

Thanks!

[clifford_thornton]

I have For the Guv'nor and it's excellent. My other Ben from the period is sans Slinger. Later Ben is something else.

That Westside looks cool, too.