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Ben Webster - Ballads (2017) [DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC]

Posted By: HDV

Date: 13 Oct 2024 09:22:25

Ben Webster - Ballads (2017) [DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC]

Swing tenor saxophone player Ben Webster earned the nickname “The Brute and the Beautiful” in jazz circles where his musical versatility was well-known. Webster's signature tough, raspy and gruff tone softened on ballads, which he played with warmth and sentiment. On this Storyville release he caresses seven timeless melodies in a variety of settings including trios with either Teddy Wilson, Ole Kock Hansen or Kenny Drew on piano, backing by The Danish Radio Big Band (on "Cry Me a River") or a version of "Greensleeves" with a string orchestra. Although largely forgotten in the United States (he had moved to Europe in 1965), Ben Webster was still in fine form this late in his career.

Webster is regarded as one of the three foremost swing era tenor saxophonists – the two others being Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. His ballad playing and sound inspired such later fellow saxophonists as Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Archie Shepp, Eddie ”Lockjaw” Davis, Frank Foster, Sonny Rollins, Flip Phillips, Georgie Auld, John Coltrane, Scott Hamilton, and Branford Marsalis. Ben never launched into double-time while playing ballads, as was the custom with most tenor saxophonists at that time, but maintained the song’s feeling throughout while staying in the slow tempo. He was one of the unique jazz musicians whose presence came through on every recording.

Tracklist:

01 - Stardust
02 - Cry Me a River
03 - For Heaven's Sake
04 - Greensleeves
05 - My Romance
06 - Willow Weep for Me
07 - Old Folks

2xHD mastering: René Laflamme.
2xHD executive producer: André Perry.

This album is a high-resolution digital transfer of material originating from an analogue master source. As a result of the analogue recording technology utilized during its production, it is possible that it may contain an audible noise floor as well as other artifacts, and may also have limitations in bandwidth and/or dynamic range.

About 2xHD Fusion

In the constant evolution of its proprietary mastering process, 2xHD has progressed to a new phase called 2xHD FUSION, integrating the finest analog, with state-of-the-art digital technology.

The mastering chain consists of a selection of high-end vacuum tube equipment. For the recordings on this album, the original ¼” 15 ips CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired from the playback head directly to a Telefunken EF806 tube, using OCC silver cable. The Nagra T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, has one of the best transports ever made. A custom-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2XHD FUSION to obtain a better resolution and 3D imaging.

The resulting signal is then transformed into high resolution formats by recording it in DSD 11.2 MHz using a Merging Technologies’ Horus A to D converter. All analog and digital cables that are used are state of the art. The 2xHD FUSION mastering system is powered by a super capacitor power supply, using a new technology that lowers the digital noise found in the lowest level of the spectrum. A vacuum tube NAGRA HDdac (DSD) is used as a reference digital playback converter in order to A and B with the original analog master tape., permitting the fusion of the warmth of analog with the refinement of digital.

Dynamic Range Report

Analyzed: Ben Webster / Ballads
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -7.67 dB -24.06 dB 6:25 01-Stardust
DR12 -6.09 dB -22.26 dB 4:15 02-Cry Me a River
DR14 -6.86 dB -24.55 dB 7:51 03-For Heaven's Sake
DR12 -6.49 dB -20.69 dB 2:26 04-Greensleeves
DR16 -6.25 dB -26.04 dB 8:40 05-My Romance
DR14 -6.74 dB -23.92 dB 5:21 06-Willow Weep for Me
DR16 -6.01 dB -27.27 dB 7:32 07-Old Folks
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 7
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 5644800 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 88200 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 1
Bitrate: 11290 kbps
Codec: DSD128
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Thanks to the Original customer!

Ben Webster Teddy Wilson Kenny Drew The Danish Radio Big Band DSD 2xHD Studio Masters