In the 1950s, tenor-saxophonist
Ben Webster was at the peak of his powers. His musical personality really featured two separate emotions: harsh and tough on the faster pieces and surprisingly warm and tender on the ballads.
Webster uses the latter voice throughout this two-LP set. On all but four of 20 selections,
Ben is backed by a string section arranged by
Ralph Burns (except for "Chelsea Bridge" which was arranged by
Billy Strayhorn) and, although clarinetists
Tony Scott and
Jimmy Hamilton and pianists
Teddy Wilson and
Hank Jones are heard from, the focus is otherwise entirely on the great tenor. The final four numbers, which matches
Webster with
Wilson in a stringless quartet, also stick to ballads. Music that is both beautiful and creative.