Ben Webster

Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27 1909 - September 20 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ben Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenor

Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27 1909 - September 20 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ben Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he would play with warmth and sentiment. Webster learned to play piano and violin at an early age, before learning to play the saxophone. Once Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster began to play that instrument in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).