This 4 CD set brings together eight original albums from Ben Webster, on which he collaborates with a host of other Jazz Greats. Featuring co-led records made with the likes of Art Tatum, Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, Gerry Mulligan and Joe Zawinul, plus jazz all-star albums on which a glossary of the finest musicians gathers, this collection is unique in its specifics. Ideal as both a starting point for those new to Webster's work, and as a compilation more diverse in its content than the more traditional anthology, this selection is certain to delight fans new and old who continue to fly the flag for one of the greatest sax-players to have ever blown a note.

This album is made up of selected live and radio broadcasts with the Danish Radio Big Band and Swedish, British and Danish/American small groups during 1964-71. As the title indicates only ballads are included on the album, and, for the first time on a Ben Webster ballad album, there is no string-section accompaniment. Three of the ten numbers were previously unreleased before the original issue of this album. The art of ballad-playing was all-important to Ben Webster. He once said "Remember, there are only three tempi in jazz - slow, medium and slow!" While all the tunes are ballads, the wide variety and constellations give a wonderful, multi-faceted sound-picture of Ben Webster.

This album is a collection of classic melodies from the repertoire of Ben Webster’s famous employer of many years, Duke Ellington. The album is comprised of three live radio sessions with the Danish Radio Big Band in 1969 and 1971, plus live concert sessions with two different backing trios (Finland in 1967 and Denmark in 1969). Aside from one tune, all the performances with the Danish Radio Big Band are based on Ellington’s original scores. The quartet sessions are also great - one with Ben’s boss from the early 1930’s, Teddy Wilson, and the other with Kenny Drew. That Ben Webster was one of the undisputed jazz greats on the tenor saxophone - both in a big band and small group context - is amply illustrated on this fine album.