album · September 11, 1958
The Art Tatum - Ben Webster Quartet
Starlight JazzSee this day
jazzcool jazz
This 1958 Verve release captures a rare quartet outing from two titans of jazz, Tatum and Webster. It stands as one of the few studio collaborations between the two legendary musicians.
- The album was recorded in Los Angeles at Contemporary's studio on March 13, 1956. It was released in September 1958 on Starlight Jazz, a subsidiary of Verve Records. The quartet also included Red Callender on bass and Les Crane on drums.
- The session was produced by Norman Granz, a renowned jazz producer who also founded Verve Records. Granz was known for his "Jazz at the Philharmonic" concerts and for capturing live performances and studio sessions with top jazz artists.
- The recording features a relaxed, swinging performance with Tatum's piano and Webster's saxophone in conversation. It is celebrated for its intimate feel and the masterful interplay between the two lead musicians.
Art Tatum and Ben Webster were American jazz artists. Tatum was a pianist known for his virtuosic improvisational skill. Webster was a tenor saxophonist with a distinctive, blues-inflected tone.
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