Ben Webster - The Warm Moods
Ben Webster - tenor saxophone
Bass – Don Bagley
Cello – Armand Kaproff (A1 to B6), Edgar Lustgarten (A1-2, A4, A6, B1-2, B4, B6), Raphael Kramer (A1-2, A4, A6, B1-2, B4, B6), Victor Gottlieb (A1-2, A4, A6, B1-2, B4, B6)
Drums – Frank Capp
Piano – Donn Trenner (A3, A5, B3, B5), Gene DiNovi (A1-2, A4, A6, B1-2, B4, B6)
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (A1 to B6)
Viola – Cecil Figelski (A3, A5, B3, B5)
Violin – Alfred Lustgarten (A3, A5, B3, B5), Lisa Minghetti (A3, A5, B3, B5)
Arranged and conducted by Johnny Richards
1LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : unspecified
Label : Pure Pleasure
Original Label : Reprise Records
Recorded in 1961 at Radio Recorders Studio, Los Angeles
Produced by John Snyder
Remastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
Originally released in 1961
Reissued in 2015
Tracks:
Side A:
- The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
- Stella By Starlight
- With Every Breath I Take
- Accent On Youth
- But Beautiful
- Time After Time
Side B:
- Nancy
- I'm Beginning To See the Light
- It Was So Beautiful
- The Whiffenpoof Song
- It's Easy To Remember
- There's No You
Reviews:
“This sumptuous and dazzling album was recorded for Frank Sinatra’s Reprise label in 1961 and in the long years since then it has become a sought-after rarity on LP, elusive and expensive, with immaculate copies almost impossible to find. But that quandary has been solved by the British label Pure Pleasure who have now brought it back into print in a fabulously restored version on 180 gram virgin vinyl. This is great news because the value of The Warm Moods lies not just in the playing of its headline soloist Ben Webster, but also the writing of the celebrated Mexican-American arranger Johnny Richards who has created a hip and decorative nest of strings for the birdsong of Webster’s tenor.
After years of having to battle it out on eBay for what transpire to be fatally scratched and crackly fifty year old copies, it’s a dream come true for listeners to have this classic recording back in the catalogue, available in mint condition, purchasable at the press of a button, and sounding quite superb.” Dennis Davis, hi-fi +, January 2016
“The veteran tenor Ben Webster had a very warm tone on ballads that contrasted with the aggressive biting sound he used on faster material. For this 1960 set Webster is joined by a string quartet (arranged by Johnny Richards) and a rhythm section for his melodic interpretations of a dozen standards. Even when simply stating the melody, Webster brings out unexpected beauty in the songs.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Ratings :
AllMusic : 3 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.49 / 5 ; Hi-Fi+: Recording 9.5/10, Music 8.5/10