[SACD-R][OF] Ben Webster & Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison - Ben & ‘Sweets’ - Wanted to do one together - 1962/2014 (Swing, Soul Jazz)

Its doubtful that there have been 2 jazz musicians more suited to record together than Ben Webster & Sweets Edison. Alumni of the Ellington & Basie bands respectively, these 2 mainstream swing players have marvelous chemistry on this session. The charts are perfect vehicles for Webster’s warm tone & silky phrasing as well as Edison’s blues-ridden melodic style that matured in the mid & late 1950’s. Most of the tunes swing hard anchored by a solid Basie-esque rhythm section. You’ll wear this one out.

This was the 3rd album they recorded together, the others being Sweets (1956) & Gee, Baby Ain’t I Good To You (1957 or ’58). Ben Webster was considered to be 1 of the 3 most important ‘swing tenors’ along with Coleman Hawkins & Lester Young. Known by some as “The Brute,” he had a tough, raspy & brutal tone on stompes but could deliver warmth & sentiment on softer ballads. Trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison spent his early childhood in Kentucky where he was introduced to music by his uncle. After moving back to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio at the age of 12, he began playing the trumpet with local bands, eventually landing a spot with the Count Basie Orchestra.

AllMusic:
Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster & trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, both veterans of the swing era (although associated with different orchestras), had long wanted to record a full album together. The results, a swinging quintet set with pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Duvivier, & drummer Clarence Johnston, are quite rewarding. There are 2 ballad features for the tenor (“How Long Has This Been Going On” & a beautiful version of “My Romance”) & 1 for Edison (“Embraceable You”), along with 3 medium-tempo collaborations. Nothing unexpected occurs but the melodic music is quite enjoyable.