Benjamin Francis Webster (Kansas City, Missouri, USA, March 27, 1909 – Amst… Read Full Bio ↴Benjamin Francis Webster (Kansas City, Missouri, USA, March 27, 1909 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 20, 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ben Webster, a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog", was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. Known affectionately as "The Brute", he had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he played with warmth and sentiment. Stylistically he was also indebted to alto star Johnny Hodges, who, he said, taught him to play his instrument.
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).

In 1940 Ben Webster became the first major tenor soloist of Duke Ellington's orchestra. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including "Cotton Tail" and "All Too Soon." After three productive years of playing with Ellington, Webster left the band in an angry altercation, during which he cut up one of Ellington's suits. After leaving Ellington in 1943, Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s.

Webster recorded a classic set with pianist Art Tatum and generally worked steadily, but in 1964 he moved permanently to join other American jazz musicians in Copenhagen, Denmark where he played when he pleased during his last decade. Although not all that flexible, Webster could swing with the best, and his tone was a later influence on such diverse players as Archie Shepp, Lew Tabackin, Scott Hamilton, David Murray, and Bennie Wallace. In 1971 Webster reunited with Duke Ellington and his big band for a couple of shows at the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark

Ben Webster died in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1973 and was interred in the Assistens Kirkegård in the Nørrebro section of Copenhagen.

After Webster's death, Billy Moore Jr. created The Ben Webster Foundation, together with the trustee of Webster's estate. Since Webster's only legal heir, Harley Robinson in Los Angeles, gladly assigned his rights to the foundation, The Ben Webster Foundation was confirmed by The Queen of Denmark's Seal in 1976. In the Foundation's trust deed, one of the initial paragraphs reads: "to support the dissemination of jazz in Denmark".
It is a beneficial Foundation, which channels Webster's annual royalties to musicians, both in Denmark and the U.S. An annual Ben Webster Prize is awarded to a young outstanding musician. The prize is not large, but considered highly prestigious. Over the years, several American musicians have visited Denmark with the help of the Foundation, and concerts, a few recordings, and other jazz-related events have been supported.
Webster's private collection of jazz recordings and memorabilia is archived in the jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Ben Webster has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Ben Websters Vej" (Ben Webster's Street).

Caravan
Ben Webster Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Night and stars above that shine so bright
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan

Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan

This is so exciting
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue

My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ben Webster's song "Caravan" describe a scene set in the desert, under the night sky filled with shimmering stars. The singer invites their companion to sleep on their shoulder as they journey across the sand in their caravan. The sense of intimacy and romance between the two is palpable, as the singer expresses their excitement at being in the presence of their love interest. The theme of memories is also present in the lyrics, as the singer wishes to hold on to this moment forever and cherish it as a cherished memory.

The opening line of the song, "Night and stars above that shine so bright", is now iconic and has been incorporated into countless other songs and pieces of pop culture. The song's lyrics were penned by composer and lyricist Duke Ellington, who co-wrote the song with his collaborator Juan Tizol. Tizol was known for his ability to play the valve trombone, and his instrument is featured prominently in the original recording of "Caravan".

In addition to being a popular jazz standard, "Caravan" has also been featured in numerous movies and TV shows. It has been included in the soundtracks for films such as The Trip, Night Falls on Manhattan, and Whiplash, as well as TV shows like The West Wing, The Twilight Zone, and The Blacklist. The song is often used to underscore scenes that are meant to evoke a sense of mystery, romance, or exoticism.

Line by Line Meaning

Night and stars above that shine so bright
The bright and shining stars in the night sky

The myst'ry of their fading light
The mystery of how their light fades away

That shines upon our caravan
The light of the stars shining on the caravan

Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Sleep on my shoulder as we slowly move forward

Across the sand so I may keep
Moving across the sand so I can keep

The mem'ry of our caravan
The memory of our trip together

This is so exciting
This is very exciting

You are so inviting
You are very attractive

Resting in my arms
Lying in my arms

As I thrill to the magic charms
Feeling thrilled by your magical charm

Of you beside me here beneath the blue
Sitting next to me under the blue sky