This recording was made 10 months before Ben Webster's death in 1972. Webster, who had left the United States in 1965 to settle in Europe, was visiting fellow musician and friend Tete Montoliu in Barcelona. Webster and Montoliu understood each other deeply, and their comfort with on another is palpable in this recording. Their accompaniment of one another is seamless.

• Limited Edition
• 2LP 45rpm 200 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Analog Mastering by Kevin Gray
• Mastered at Cohearent Audio
• Cut from the Original Master Tapes
• Pressed at QRP, USA

That Rich, Humid, Giant Sax Tone Blooms Like On Few Other Webster Recordings! Ben Webster was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist who was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. There's no shortage of Webster's trademark breathy, fat tenor tone here. In fact, given the sparse arrangement, that rich, humid, giant sax blooms like on few other recordings. Highlights include "Ben's Blues," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "The Man I Love" and "Don't Blame Me."

This recording was made 10 months before Ben Webster's death in 1972. Webster, who had left the United States in 1965 to settle in Europe - first in Copenhagen and then in Amsterdam - was visiting fellow musician and friend Tete Montoliu in Barcelona. Webster and pianist Montoliu went back a ways, having played together regularly in Webster's Copenhagen days. In fact, Montoliu cited Webster and Don Byas as his two chief musical influences. Webster and Montoliu understood each other deeply, and their comfort with on another is palpable in this recording. Their accompaniment of one another is seamless. On board with these two is Montoliu's regular working trio-mates, Eric Peter on bass and Peer Wyboris on drums.

"Supported by a rhythm section of Eric Peter on bass and Peer Wyboris on drums, both Webster and Montoliu have plenty of room to breathe, and the result is a wonderful and pleasant set highlighted by the opening track, "Ben's Blues," and an easy, elegant version of "Sweet Georgia Brown." - Steve Leggett, All Music

"...Webster's trademark sensual sound is on full display and, of course, he's backed by Montoliu, an outstanding Spanish piano veteran who accompanied all the great jazz artists passing through Europe...This is one of the first releases by Analogue Productions pressed at their new in-house pressing plant Quality Record Pressings, and the record bears a close resemblance in appearance to records from Pallas - beautiful looking and perfectly quiet...The superb 200-gram LP comes in a rice paper sleeve and jacket of heavy cardboard...Highest Recommendation." Recording = 10/10; Music = 8.5/10 - Dennis D. Davis, Hi-Fi+

"Ah, that unique, highly individual sound of Ben Webster’s sax! The original session dates from November of 1972 in Barcelona, Spain, and Ben is front and center thruout – his every note and breath standing out in 3D. Both the original recording job in Barcelona and the remastering by Kevin Gray are excellent..." - Audiophile Audition

Recorded November 28, 1972 at Casino De L'Alianca Del Poblenou (Barcelona).

Musicians:

Ben Webster, tenor saxophone
Tete Montoliu, piano
Eric Peter, bass
Peer Wyboris, drums

Track Listing:

1. Ben's Blues
2. The Man I Love
3. My Nephew Bent
4. How Long Has This Been Going On

5. Sweet Georgia Brown
6. Don't Blame Me
7. Did You Call
8. Barcelona Shout