Ben Webster • Ben Webster Meets Don Byas

 

Review
by Ken Dryden  
This early-'70s meeting between two giants of the tenor sax (both of whom by this time were living in Europe on a permanent basis) is full of memorable moments. The styles of Ben Webster and Don Byas provide a distinct contrast (though Byas was also a swing-influenced saxophonist, he was heavily into bop as well), yet they mesh very well together. On their opening improvised "Blues for Dottie Mae," Webster's big-toned swing tends to dominate, though Byas' boppish lines dart around at lightning speeds; Tete Montoliu's bluesy piano provides the perfect support. The roles are evened out a bit more on a swinging take of "Sunday." The evenly matched tenor battle continues with a rousing "Perdido" and very swinging "Caravan." Bassist Peter Trunk introduces Byas' "Lullaby to Dottie Mae," an easygoing reworking of the timeless ballad "Body and Soul," which features a rapid-fire solo by Byas. Webster's turn in the solo spotlight is his own ballad "When Ash Meets Henry," in which he is accompanied only by Trunk's well-chosen basslines. Also present on the date is drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. Sadly, this LP was a bit of a swan song for both tenor saxophonists; Byas died in the year prior to its 1973 release, while Webster died the following year, though he taped at least one more album following this one.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ben-meets-don-byas-mw0000188808

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Revisión
por Ken Dryden  
Este encuentro de principios de los 70 entre dos gigantes del saxo tenor (ambos en ese momento vivían en Europa de forma permanente) está lleno de momentos memorables. Los estilos de Ben Webster y Don Byas proporcionan un contraste distinto (aunque Byas también era un saxofonista influenciado por el swing, también estaba muy interesado en el bop), sin embargo, encajan muy bien juntos. En su improvisado "Blues for Dottie Mae" de apertura, el swing de tonos grandes de Webster tiende a dominar, aunque las líneas boppish de Byas se lanzan a la velocidad del rayo; el piano blues de Tete Montoliu proporciona el soporte perfecto. Los papeles se igualan un poco más en una toma oscilante de " Sunday."La batalla de tenor igualada continúa con una entusiasta caravana de" Perdido "y muy oscilante". El bajista Peter Trunk presenta "Lullaby to Dottie Mae" de Byas, una reelaboración tranquila de la balada atemporal "Body and Soul", que presenta un solo rápido de Byas.  El turno de Webster en el centro de atención en solitario es su propia balada "When Ash Meets Henry", en la que está acompañado solo por las líneas de bajo bien elegidas de Trunk. También está presente en la fecha el baterista Albert "Tootie" Heath. Lamentablemente, este LP fue un canto de cisne para ambos saxofonistas tenores; Byas murió el año anterior a su lanzamiento en 1973, mientras que Webster murió al año siguiente, aunque grabó al menos un álbum más después de este.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ben-meets-don-byas-mw0000188808

Tracks:
1 - Blues For Dottie Mae
Written-By – Ben Webster, Don Byas - 7:05
2 - Lullaby To Dottie Mae
Written-By – Don Byas - 5:47
3 - Sundae
Written-By – Bennie Krueger, Cann*, Styne*, Miller* - 6:09
4 - Perdido
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol - 5:48
5 - When Ash Meets Henry
Written-By – Ben Webster - 3:01
6 - Caravan
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol - 9:07


Credits:
    Bass – Peter Trunk
    Drums – Albert Heath
    Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Rolf Donner
    Liner Notes, Producer – Joachim E. Berendt*
    Photography By [All Others] – Josef Werkmeister (tracks: J. Werkmeister)
    Photography By [Color photos] – P. Baugatz
    Piano – Tete Montoliu
    Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster, Don Byas

Recorded February 1-2, 1968 at MPS Studio, Villigen/Black Forest.

Label:    MPS Records – 827 920-2
Country:    US
Released:    1986
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Bop, Swing
https://www.discogs.com/release/9833833-Ben-Webster-Meets-Don-Byas-Ben-Webster-Meets-Don-Byas

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