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If you want a great example of later Ben Webster, this recording splendidly reproduces Ben’s glorious, utterly unique rich sound. The audiophile recording made in a small theatre directly to a two track tape recorder, is further enhanced through the 2xHD Fusion re-mastering process. Described as one of ‘the warmest and most sensitive of performers, Ben webster is among that exclusive hierarchy of jazz artists to whose consistent excellence there can never be an over-abundance of recorded testimony. The title Gentle Ben was inspired by the warm and gentle atmosphere created by Ben during his last recording session before his death. Even if his body declined during his last years, his playing never did. To the last day, Webster played with passion and intensity, and his ballad playing became even more beautiful and tender, simplified almost to the laconic and delivered with weight on every note. He never launched into double-time while playing ballads, as was the customs with most tenor saxophonists at that time but maintained the song’s feeling throughout while staying in the slow tempo. Webster was one of the unique jazz musicians whose presence came through on every recording. Dizzy Gillespie hit it right on the button when he said: “I’ve heard Ben play in so many settings but to sit down and listen to him play a ballad – nobody who ever played a ballad does a better job than Ben Webster does on it. I don’t care from what age they come in music”.