Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tenor Titans: Master Of Jazz: Tenor Titans

166

Tenor Titans: Master Of Jazz: Tenor Titans

By

Sign in to view read count
Dexter Gordon and Ben Webster had known each other since the 1940s and occasionally played together when they both lived in Copenhagen during the 1960s, but regrettably, there's little recorded documentation of the saxmen sharing the stage. Thanks to the Danish Storyville label, Tenor Titans gives listeners a rare chance to hear them forming a two-tenor front line. And the two prove to be a most exciting combination on "In A Mellotone," "Perdido" and "C-Jam Blues," all of which were recorded live in Denmark in 1969 (and all of which came from Duke Ellington's repertoire). It's easy telling Gordon and Webster apart — Webster's breathy sound was a product of swing, whereas the equally distinctive Gordon owed a lot to Charlie Parker and bebop.

Other songs on Tenor Titans find them playing separately in 1972 (the year before Webster died). Gordon is in fine form on "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me" and his own "Sticky Wicket," while Webster delivers a soulful "Our Love Is Here To Stay." Without a doubt, this CD is acoustic jazz heaven.



Reprinted with the permission of Myrna Daniels and L.A. Jazz Scene , the largest jazz publication in Southern California.

Album information

Title: Master Of Jazz: Tenor Titans | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Storyville Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.