Young Turk tenor saxophonist
James Carter gets the nod to curate this
Ben Webster edition of Verve's fine
Ultimate series. Avoiding the pitfalls of many a vintage jazz collection (too many popular performances),
Ultimate Ben Webster features a nice mix of the expected ("Cotton Tail") and obscure ("I'll Be Back"). The majority here was cut during the bebop and hard bop eras, showcasing a player in his autumnal splendor. And, of course, ballads like "Time After Time," "Ill Wind," and "Tenderly" are the standouts,
Webster's vaporously sensual tone in full flower. That's not to forget the all-star company on hand, which includes the likes of
Coleman Hawkins,
Hank Jones, and
Roy Eldridge, among many others. A treat. ~ Stephen Cook