Ben Webster

Ben Webster, AKA “Frog” or “The Brute”, was known for his harsh growling tones in “Swing”, contrasted by his delicate warmth in ballads. He started off learning the violin, then he taught himself the piano; finally, with a bit of help from alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, he found his fame on the tenor Saxophone. Webster was well known for his work with Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Walter Page, Andy Kirk, Fletcher
Henderson, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway and many others, he was most famous for his work with Duke Ellington 1935-1943.

Webster’s popularity never waned, in 1965 he moved to Europe, where he worked with other American jazz musicians until the day he died.