When Webster Met Zawinul: A Surprise That Works
An unlikely pairing that delivers genuine music from two very different players at different points in their careers.
Soulmates pairs Ben Webster, the gruff tenor saxophonist who'd spent decades in swing and blues settings, with Joe Zawinul, a pianist still finding his voice in the early 1960s. On paper this looks like it shouldn't work — Webster was steeped in an older tradition, Zawinul was experimenting with newer harmonic ideas. But the session, recorded for Riverside in 1963, proves that the pairing has real chemistry. Webster's tone remains instantly recognizable: warm, slightly rough around the edges, with that tobacco-and-whiskey quality that made him stand out even in crowded orchestras. Zawinul doesn't try to match Webster's swagger or history. Instead, he listens carefully and responds, laying down accompaniment that gives Webster room to breathe while staying engaged with what the saxophonist is doing.
This isn't Webster's peak — by 1963 he'd already made his strongest statements elsewhere — but it's solid work from both players. AllMusic reviewer Jim Todd heard it as proof that an unlikely combination could deliver honest performances, and that's accurate. You're not getting Webster in a context that lets him sprawl across an entire album with a full band, but you're getting him in close quarters where his choices matter more. The material never overwhelms either player, which keeps things focused on the conversation between horns and keys.
If you're already familiar with Webster's catalog, this is worth hearing because it captures him late in his career, still engaged and still capable of pushing back against unfamiliar settings. If you're new to Webster, start with earlier recordings where he has more room to work. This one's for people who know his sound and want to hear how he adapted to different circumstances, and for Zawinul watchers curious about his sideman days before he became a bandleader.
Who's playing
Richard Davisbass
Sam Jonesbass
Joe Zawinulpiano
Ben Webstertenor saxophone
Philly Joe Jonesdrums
Thad Jonescornet
Where next?
More by Ben Webster
Coleman Hawkins encounters Ben Webster 1959
The Tatum Group Masterpieces 1958
At the Renaissance 1960
Ben Webster and Associates 1959
The musicians on this record
Money In The Pocket 1965
Joe Zawinul
plays piano here
plays piano here
♫
The Two Sides of Jack Wilson 1964
Philly Joe Jones
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
