Ben Webster - Gentle Ben (2018) [Hi-Res]

If you want a great example of later Ben Webster, this recording – splendidly reproduces Ben’s glorious, utterly unique rich sound. The audiophile recording in a small theatre directly to a two track tape recorder, is further enhanced through the 2xHD Fusion re-mastering process. The title ‘Gentle Ben’ was inspired by the warm and gentle atmosphere created by Ben during this, his last recording session before his death. The bluster has gone and he could caress a theme like ‘The Man I Love’ with tenderness. One of the paradoxes of Ben was that in person he was quite an aggressive man but in his music he was gentle, seductive and sensual.

Pepe Montoliu is himself a virtuoso but here he is the supreme accompaniment. If you want a great example of later Ben Webster, this recording splendidly reproduces Ben’s glorious, utterly unique rich sound.

"The soundstage is intimate and inviting, Webster's horn beautifully captured with sweet, rich overtornes, the bass liquid, chugging, and textured, piano and drums easy and natural. As with each title, the music emerges from QRP's beautifully flat and wonderfully silent surfaces with that much more "there-ness." (Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound)

"...Webster's trademark sensual sound is on full display and, of course, he's backed by Montoliu, an outstanding Spanish piano veteran who accompanied all the great jazz artists passing through Europe..." (Dennis D. Davis, Hi-Fi+)

Ben Webster, tenor saxophone
Tete Montoliu, piano
Eric Peter, double bass
Peer Wyboris, drums

Digitally remastered