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).
In A Mellow Tone
Ben Webster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling fancy free
And I'm not alone
I've got company
Everything's OK
The live long day
With this mellow song
In a mellow tone
That's the way to live
If you mope and groan
Something's gotta give
Just go your way
And laugh and play
There's joy unknown
In a mellow tone
In a mellow tone
In a mellow tone
Feeling fancy free
And I'm not alone
I've got company
Everything's OK
The live long day
With this mellow song
I can't go wrong
In a mellow tone
That's the way to live
If you mope and groan
Something's gotta give
Just go your way
And laugh and play
There's joy unknown
In a mellow tone
In a mellow tone
In a mellow tone
The song "In a Mellow Tone" by Ben Webster is a musical masterpiece that describes the joys of an easygoing life. The lyrics open with the lines: "In a mellow tone, feeling fancy free, and I'm not alone, I've got company." The words paint a picture of a relaxed atmosphere where the singer is comfortable and surrounded by friends.
The chorus emphasizes the feeling of contentment in a mellow tone: "Everything's OK, the live long day, with this mellow song, I can't go wrong." The song urges the listener to enjoy life by going their own way, laughing, and playing: "Just go your way and laugh and play, there's joy unknown in a mellow tone."
Line by Line Meaning
In a mellow tone
The singer is currently in a calm and relaxed state
Feeling fancy free
The singer is carefree and doesn't have any worries or concerns
And I'm not alone
The singer is enjoying the company of others
Everything's OK
There are no problems or issues currently affecting the artist
The live long day
The entire day has been enjoyable and pleasant
With this mellow song
The song being referenced is contributing to the singer's peaceful state
I can't go wrong
The singer believes that nothing could disrupt their current state of contentment
That's the way to live
Living in a relaxed and carefree manner is the ideal way of life
If you mope and groan
If someone complains or sulks, they will not be able to achieve a state of contentment
Something's gotta give
If one continues to be negative, something will eventually give and cause an undesirable consequence
Just go your way
One should continue to pursue their own path in life
And laugh and play
The artist believes that incorporating fun and joy into one's life is important
There's joy unknown
There can be a lot of happiness and positivity that one may not even realize exists
In a mellow tone
The idea of living in a peaceful and relaxed state is being reinforced
In a mellow tone
The singer is ending the song the same way they began it, emphasizing the importance of living in a tranquil state
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind