MANY ASPIRE, FEW ATTAIN…Ben Webster: Ben Webster’s First Concert In Denmark

Beginning a long and successful life as an ex-pat, tenor sax legend Ben Webster is found here in his first concert in his soon-to-be permanent second home. The gig at Copenhagen’s Radiohusets Koncertsal from January 10 of 1965 has him in simpatico company with Kenny Drew/p, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen/b and Alex Riel/dr. The album is short but sweet, including a solo piano rehearsal of “In A Mellotone” with Drew in full stride, and the band giving a swinging version during the set. Webster is in a gorgeous growl on a dreamy “My Romance” gets greasy on “Blues in B-Flat” and sighs on the aria of “Over the Rainbow.” A truncated “Cottontail” closes things out, making this make you beg for more, more, MORE. But, like with films of Hedy Lamarr, be glad with what you’ve got.

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