Ben Webster Plays Ballads

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Ben Webster had a perfect tone for playing ballads, full of sentiment and emotion. On this Storyville release he caresses seven timeless melodies in a variety of settings including trios with either Teddy Wilson, Ole Kock Hansen or Kenny Drew on piano, backing by The Danish Radio Big Band (on "Cry Me a River") or a version of "Greensleeves" with a string orchestra. Although largely forgotten in the United States (he had moved to Europe in 1965), Ben Webster was still in fine form this late in his career.

Ben Webster

Plays Ballads 

[00:00] A1. Stardust Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Drums – Makaya Ntsoko/ Piano – Teddy Wilson/ Recorded By – Danmarks Radio [06:18] A2. Cry Me A River Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Conductor – Niels Jørgen/ SteenDrums – William Schiöppfe/ Guitar – Ole Molin/ Piano – Ole Koch Hansen/ Producer – Erik Moseholm/ Reeds – Bent Nielsen, Erling Christensen (2), Flemming Madsen, Jesper Thilo, Uffe Karskov/ Trombone – Helmuth Hjort Hansen, Ole Kurt Jensen, Per Espersen, Poul Jørgensen, Torolf Mølgård/ Trumpet – Allan Botschinsky, Henry Henkel, Palle Bolvig, Palle Mikkelborg, Perry Knudsen [10:29] A3. For Heavens Sake Bass – Hugo Rasmussen/ Drums – Bjarne Rostvold/ Guitar – Ole Molin/ Piano – Ole Koch Hansen [18:16] A4. Greensleeves Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Drums – Al Heath/ Piano – Kenny Drew/ Producer – Steen Bramsen/ Reeds – Bent Nielsen, Jesper Thilo, Sahib Shihab, Uffe KarskovStrings – Aage Bertelsen, Anton Kontra, Børge Madsen, Erling Christensen, Finn Ziegler, H. Bjerregaard Jensen, Hans Christian Schwenger, Helge Willer-Nielsen, Holger Bjerre, Kurt Jensen, Mogens Holm Larsen, Ove Winther, Per Lüdolph, Stanley Carlson, Svend Aage Blankholm, Svend Aage Jensen [20:37] B1. My Romance Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Drums – Al Heath/ Piano – Kenny Drew [29:09] B2. Willow Weep For Me Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Drums – Al Heath/ Piano – Kenny Drew/ Producer – Børge Roger Henrichsen [34:24] B3. Old Folks Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen/ Drums – Bjarne Rostvold/ Piano – Ole Koch Hansen

Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

A collection of not previously released recordings from 1967 to 1971

Phonographic Copyright (p) – Storyville Records AB Copyright (c) – Storyville Records AB