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).
St. James Infirmary
Ben Webster Lyrics
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They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table,
So sweet, cool and so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
The gang'll know I died standing pat
Let her go, let her go God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Three pretty women to sing a song
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as I stroll along
Let her go Let her go
God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide
World over
She'll never find a sweeter
Man as me
In Ben Webster's song, St. James Infirmary, the singer tells the story of how he went to St. James Infirmary and saw his lover lying dead on a white table. The pain in the man's heart is palpable as he asks God to bless his baby and to let her go, wherever she may be. He further states that she will never find a man sweeter than him, even if she searched the whole world over. He talks about his impending doom and how he wants to be buried in his high top Stetson hat and a twenty-dollar gold piece on his watch chain. Finally, he asks for six crapshooters to be his pallbearers, three pretty women to sing a song, and a jazz band to play on his hearse wagon as he is carried to his grave.
This song is a classic blues song that has been reinterpreted by many artists over the years. The song has a mournful and melancholic tone but it also exudes a sense of defiance at the inevitability of death. The singer seems to be living life on his own terms, embracing death when it comes, and making sure that his funeral is a wild party with music and pretty women. This song captures the essence of the blues, which is about acknowledging pain and hardships but finding beauty in them and celebrating life in all its aspects.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
The story took place at a bar called old Joe's situated on the corner of a square.
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
When the story went down, the people at the bar were their typical kind, drinks were served as usual.
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
Next to the writer was Big Joe whose eyes were reddened probably as a result of drinking too much.
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
The writer says Joe looked in the people's direction and spoke these exact words.
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
The writer claimed to have visited St. James infirmary where they saw their lover dead at the hospital.
She was stretched out on a long white table, So sweet, cool and so fair
The lady was laid on a white table and looked beautiful, serene, and cold.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her, Wherever she may be
The writer bids their farewell to their loved one's soul by saying they should rest in peace wherever they are.
She may search this whole wide world over, Never find a sweeter man as me
The writer boasts that she won't find as great a lover as him, even if she searched the whole world.
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat, Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain, The gang'll know I died standing pat
When the writer passes on, they ask to be buried wearing specific items as a mark of their personality and strength.
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers, Three pretty women to sing a song, Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon, Raise hell as I stroll along
The writer demands that their funeral procession will be an unconventional party featuring six of their gambling buddies as pallbearers and several women singing a jazz song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE PRIMROSE, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind