Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ben Webster: Cotton Tail

Ben Webster: Cotton Tail

By AAJ Staff
January 1, 1998
View read count

RCA Victor recorded Ben Webster frequently during the 1930s and '40s, but not as a leader. The breathy tenor sax giant is heard strictly as a sidemen on this gem-laden collection (which spans 1932-1946), and he's in some first- class company. More than half of the disc's 22 recordings find him in Duke Ellington's employ, while the others illustrate the fact that Webster also did some excellent work with Lionel Hampton, Benny Moten, Benny Carter and Rex Stewart. Webster shows how intensely he could swing on "Cotton Tail" and "Raincheck" with Ellington and "Toby" and "Lafayette" with Moten. But when Webster gets sentimental with The Duke on "My Greatest Mistake," "Chelsea Bride" and lovely "All Too Soon," we're reminded that none could play ballads more charismatically. Indeed, Cotton Tail 's ballads show us the real meaning of "smooth jazz"—and it ain't Dave Koz or Kenny G.

Cotton Tail is essential listening. Period.

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

Personnel

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor

Album information

Title: Cotton Tail | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: RCA Victor

About Ben Webster

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Meets The RIAS Big Band
< Previous

Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legend...
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.