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).
Chloe
Ben Webster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's calling, no reply
Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
Chloe! Chloe!
Empty spaces in his eyes
Through the black of night
I've got to go where you are
If it's dark or bright
I've got to go where you are
I'll go through the dismal swampland
Searching for you
For if you are lost there
Let me be there, too
Through the smoke and flame
I've got to go where you are
For no ways can be too far
Where you are
Ain't no chains can bind you
If you live, I'll find you
Love is calling me
I've got to go where you are
The song "Chloe" by Ben Webster is a song about a man who is desperately searching for a woman named Chloe, who seems to have disappeared. Throughout the song, we can hear his anguish and desperation as he calls out her name, but receives no response. The Nightshade falling serves as a symbol of the darkness that has descended upon him as a result of losing Chloe. He is filled with emptiness and longing for her, as illustrated by the mention of empty spaces in his eyes and his outstretched arms.
The singer is willing to go to any length to find Chloe, even if it means going through dismal swamplands, smoke and flame or traveling great distances. This sense of desperation speaks to the depth of his love for Chloe. The lyrics also suggest that he believes that their love has the power to overcome any obstacle, as he believes that love can break the chains that bind her and bring her back to him.
Overall, the message of the song is one of unwavering dedication and unconditional love. Despite the darkness and the obstacles that stand in his way, the singer's love for Chloe is relentless and he is determined to find her no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's calling, no reply
A person is calling Chloe's name but there is no answer from her.
Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
The night has fallen and the person calling Chloe's name is audible as he sighs.
Empty spaces in his eyes
The person calling Chloe's name has eyes that show emptiness or sadness.
Empty arms outstretched, he's crying
The person calling Chloe's name is crying with his arms stretched outwards.
Through the black of night
The person is continuing to call Chloe's name even though it is very dark outside.
I've got to go where you are
The person is resolute that they must find Chloe.
If it's dark or bright
The darkness or brightness of the surroundings won't matter to the person in their quest to find Chloe.
I'll go through the dismal swampland
The person is willing to navigate through a gloomy, swampy terrain to locate Chloe.
Searching for you
The person is actively looking for Chloe.
For if you are lost there
The person thinks that Chloe might be lost in the swampy terrain.
Let me be there, too
In the event that Chloe is lost, the person wants to be there with her.
Through the smoke and flame
The person is willing to brave through fire to find Chloe.
For no ways can be too far
There is no distance too far for the person to travel to find Chloe.
Ain't no chains can bind you
The person believes that there is nothing stopping Chloe from being found.
If you live, I'll find you
The person is confident that Chloe is alive and that they will find her.
Love is calling me
The urgency to locate Chloe stems from a deep sense of love that the person has for her.
I've got to go where you are
The person is resolute that they must find Chloe.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL MORET, GUS KAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind