"King of the tenors," Benjamin Francis Webster played in several important swing bands before becoming Duke Ellington's star soloist in 1940. By the early 1950s, he had created his own distinct sound, emerging as a master interpreter of jazz ballads. His important collaborators included Oscar Peterson (King of the Tenors, 1953) and Coleman Hawkins (Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster, 1957). Born in Kansas City, Webster moved permanently to Denmark in 1964, where he continued to play and record.
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Volume 1 portrays 35 outstanding musical legends that have shaped and continue to inspire America’s rich jazz tradition.
Volume 2 portrays 35 outstanding musical Blues legends that have helped begin most other forms of music.