Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster [LP]

Personnel: Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Oscar Peterson (piano); Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums). Producer: Norman Granz. Reissue producer: Michael Lang. Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California on October 16, 1957. Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Suha Gur (Polygram Studios). This is part of the Verve Master Editions series. This 1957 session brings together two of the most important tenor saxophonists in jazz history. Coleman Hawkins is known as the father of the jazz sax, while Webster may be its greatest balladeer. COLEMAN HAWKINS ENCOUNTERS BEN WEBSTER highlights the talents of both tenor men nicely, with Hawkins and Webster consistently complementing each other's playing. In fact, they develop a kind of conversational interplay that is quite beautiful, particularly on the gentle "It Never Entered My Mind" and the slowly swinging "Shine on Harvest Moon." Although the rest of the band consists of stellar musicians (including pianist Oscar Peterson and guitarist Herb Ellis), they concede the spotlight to Hawkins and Webster, whose dual saxophones more than carry the record. Other standout tracks include the sultry ballad "Tangerine" and the Latin-flavored "La Rosita."