Big Ben: Ben Webster in Europe (1967) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

1967 · 31 mins · English

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Directed by

Johan van der Keuken

Starring

Cees Slings, Rob Langereis, Don Byas, Jimmy Parsons, Michiel de Ruyter

In the late 1960s, American saxophonist Ben Webster, born in Kansas City in 1909 and famed for his work with the era’s jazz greats, spent a year living in Amsterdam. He lodged with an elderly landlady, Mrs Hardloper, and appeared on a national talk show. In interview fragments edited by Van der Keuken, Webster reflects on his time with Duke Ellington’s band, memories of his early career, and even a friend noted for his deft knife‑and‑fork skills.