小简介
在所有名垂乐史的爵士萨克管大师中,班.威伯斯特(BEN WEBSTER,1909
-1973)吹出的音色应该说是最为特别的:沙哑而绝不饱满,沉厚而绝不明亮,
却又柔软甜美到极点。在旋律中吹奏长音的时候,老班最拿手的就是加入鲜明
悠长的气音,余韵浓浓不绝。在这一点上,老班的吹奏与小号圣手兼歌手路易
斯.阿姆斯特朗(LOUIS ARMSTRONG) 人声演唱的音色特点是极为相似的——
路易斯的歌声虽然呈现出“破锣”一般的粗砺质感,却又有着一波接一波、回
味无穷的独特情致。萨克管明明是用金属打造的(虽然它属于木管乐器),但
如今拿出老班的传世唱片来细细聆赏,他自成一派的演奏技巧却令人越听越怀
疑握在他手中的那支“魔力”萨克管是不是用糯米糖捏成的!这种抒情的音色
实在是太令人心旌神摇了,真可谓“百炼钢化绕指柔”,让人不由得沉湎其中,
无力自拔。
老班真是一个值得大书特书的人物,传奇色彩贯穿着他的一生。20世纪60
年代中期,在美国老家的成就已经登峰造极的老班似乎对当时美国的艺术环境
已经厌倦,渐渐萌生去意,终于移居到了欧洲。他把北欧荷兰、丹麦等国作为
他的新基地。当时北欧特别是丹麦的首都哥本哈根已经成为新兴的欧洲爵士乐
中心,在很多乐手的心里俨然已有与美国新奥尔良、纽约这些爵士大本营并驾
齐驱之势,而老班在短短的几年中就成了欧洲爵士乐中心里首屈一指的人物。
他时常在音乐节上和俱乐部里与当地的一些节奏乐团联袂演出,但更经常的是
和同样自美国移民过去的老牌乐手合作,如钢琴手肯尼.德鲁(KENNY DREW)。
置身于欧洲这个爵士乐新兴之地的老班已经回复了往昔在美国的无上荣光,对
爵士乐在欧洲大陆的推广也作出了巨大的贡献。1973年,可恶的病魔降临到了
老班身上。经过两周的住院治疗,这位伟大的爵士音乐家终告不治,于1973年
9月在荷兰阿姆斯特丹与世长辞。 从1929年开始吹萨克管到1973年去世,班.
威伯斯特的个人风格发展还是有一条清晰的轨迹可寻的。他早年的演奏乐风活
泼积极,强烈激进,但他最被人铭记的也许是在他的晚期,那种抒情演奏异常
温暖而且热情洋溢。班.威伯斯特与柯尔曼.霍金斯(COLEMAN HAWKINS)一
起,在早期音乐中把次中音萨克管带到了完全成熟的境界,证明自己是最经得
住时间考验的音乐家之一。他的抒情风格,其生命力是永恒的!
1965年,老班曾在哥本哈根灌录了到欧洲之后最重要的一张唱片《我的浪
漫》,当时的录音公司是PHONOCO, 以黑胶碟出版。此时,老班的作品大多回
归了他早期柔美浪漫的歌谣式风格,也许可算是这位萨克管大师追忆少年情怀
的心情写照?唱片中共收入12首乐曲,其中《约翰兄弟之蓝调》(“BROTHER
JOHN’S BLUES”)、《(笑靥迎人的)南希》(“NANCY (WITH THE LAUGHING
FACE)”、《公爵在床上》(“DUKE’S IN BED”)、《我的浪漫》、《醇酒
与玫瑰的日子》(“DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES”)、《蓝光》(“BLUE LIGHT”)、
《爵士踢踏舞者琼斯》(“STOMPY JONES”)等8首在1965年9月录制于哥本哈
根,跟老班合作的大都是欧洲乐手,包括小号手阿纽德.梅尔(ARNVED MEYER)、
长号手约翰.达维尔(JOHN DARVILLE)、次中音萨克斯手奥尔.康斯蒂(OLE
KONGSTED)、钢琴手尼尔斯.约根.斯蒂恩(NIELS JORGEN STEEN)、低音提
琴手亨德里克.哈特曼(HENDRIK HARTMAN)和鼓手汉斯.尼曼(HANS NYMAND),
而《我无法开始》(“I CAN’T GET STARTED”)、《主题》(“THE THEME”)、
《活蹦乱跳的青蛙》(“FRISKIN’ THE FROG”)、《风雨欲来》(“STORMY
WEATHER”)4首则于1965年1月录制,与班合作的乐手有钢琴手肯尼.德鲁、
低音提琴手尼尔斯.彼得森(NILS PEDERSON)和鼓手阿历克斯.里尔(ALEX RIEL)。
Ben Webster was considered one of the big three of swing tenors along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls) yet on ballads he would turn into a pussy cat and play with warmth and sentiment. After violin lessons as a child, Webster learned how to play rudimentary piano (his neighbor Pete Johnson taught him to play blues). But after Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster played sax in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). He had stints with Jap Allen and Blanche Calloway (making his recording debut with the latter) before joining Bennie Motens Orchestra in time to be one of the stars on a classic session in 1932. Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).
In 1940 (after short stints in 1935 and 1936), Ben Webster became Duke Ellingtons first major tenor soloist. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including Cotton Tail (which in addition to his memorable solo had a saxophone ensemble arranged by Webster) and All Too Soon. After leaving Ellington in 1943 (he would return for a time in 1948-1949), Webster worked on 52nd Street; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s. Although his sound was considered out-of-style by that decade, Websters work on ballads became quite popular and Norman Granz recorded him on many memorable sessions. Webster recorded a classic set with Art Tatum and generally worked steadily, but in 1964 he moved permanently to Copenhagen where he played when he pleased during his last decade. Although not all that flexible, Webster could swing with the best and his tone was a later influence on such diverse players as Archie Shepp, Lew Tabackin, Scott Hamilton, and Bennie Wallace.