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).
Over The Rainbow
Ben Webster Lyrics
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There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
The lyrics to "Over The Rainbow" are a powerful expression of a longing for a better life beyond the current struggles and hardships. Somewhere over the rainbow, there is a place that exists in the dream world where skies are blue and the promises of our hearts' wishes become a reality. The song begins with the singer expressing the hope they have heard, most likely from a lullaby or a story, about lands beyond the rainbow. The phrase "way up high" suggests a mystical and magical place where the sky and the earth merge in a harmonious whole.
As the lyrics progress, the singer expresses a wish upon a star that they will wake up in a place where their troubles are far behind them, and where the troubles seem to melt like lemon drops. The line "High above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" indicates an elevation from the mundane world to a place where the singer feels content and satisfied. All the while, the singer is wondering about the bluebirds that fly over the rainbow, and they can't help but wonder why they can't fly there too.
The song concludes with the same sentiments expressed in the first verse, a reminder that beyond the struggles of one's current reality, there's still hope for a better future. The lyrics to "Over The Rainbow" are a beautiful and poignant call to dream big, aspire to greater things, and hold onto the hope of a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There is a place far away from here that is above our heads.
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
I have heard about this place before, but it was only in a song.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
In that place, the sky is blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
If you have the courage to dream big dreams,
Really do come true.
Those dreams can actually become a reality.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
One day I will make a wish on a star.
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
When I wake up, I will be in a place where the clouds are very far away.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
In that place, my problems will disappear like magic.
High above the chimney tops,
It is high up in the sky.
That's where you'll find me.
That is where I will be.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In that place, there are blue birds flying around.
Birds fly over the rainbow
They are flying over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
I wonder why I cannot fly like those birds.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Maybe those happy, little blue birds are flying beyond the rainbow.
Why, oh why can't I?
I still wonder why I cannot fly like those birds.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lemonflower
When you finally see the light after a painful, long time. You can really feel it with his interpretation, from the first note.
Phil Pryor
I lean to sentiment, purity, emotion, tone, class, prettiness, late at night while reflecting on all the reasons for being, loving, feeling. Never does a ballad by the glorious Ben and his select friends miss in adding to the situation where one hopes for better for all of us.
MGioberti
Oh my God... what a beautiful music!
Alberto Josè Cacurri
Especialista en las baladas, su sonido es aterciopelado y "acariciador", secundado por la maravilla en el pian o de Hank Jones
hiehoeha
i listen to metal and stuff, but this really calms me down. i love it...
Francesca Coronado Sandoval
me encanta.. <3
4205lr
With Ben are Hank Jones, Richard Davis on bass and Osie Johnson on drums. from 1964.
Marco 45665
BEN WEBSTER IS GREAT > He changes The Instruement (The Sax) into MUSIC....
Marc.
bob szwed
The King of breath tones
Pata Painevilu
Creo q estoy taaaaaaaaaaaan enamorada de mi Querido Ben!