Sometimes affectionately known as 'The Brute' and 'Frog' due to his tough and
raspy style of playing, Ben Webster is recognised as one of the most important
tenor sax musicians of all time, along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young.
Brought up in Kansas City, he originally learned to play piano and violin,
before turning to sax after taking lessons from the great Johnny Hodges. He
joined the Young Family Band, which then featured Lester Young and went on to
play with Benny Moten's band alongside future stars like Count Basie and Walter
Page. Others he played with along the way ...