Song for My Father

Read About This Recording

Horace Silver has always forged his own creative but highly accessible musical path in jazz. Although his original influence was the innovative bebop pianist Bud Powell, Silver brought his own brand of rhythmic and melodic soul to his music, both as a pianist and as a composer. His playing and writing perfectly symbolized the funky jazz of the 1950s and '60s.

Early on, Silver was influenced a bit by the Cape Verdean folk music he heard as a child, in addition to jazz. In 1950, his trio played a concert with tenor-saxophonist Stan Getz. Getz so enjoyed the music that he hired the group as his touring quartet, which resulted in Silver being discovered. He freelanced in the New York area, began recording for Blue Note and, from 1954-56, was the co-leader of The Jazz Messengers along with drummer Art Blakey. After going out on his own, he formed his own quintet, a group considered a pacesetter in hard bop and soul jazz as Silver's style became a major force.

Horace Silver's glory years, particularly on record, were from 1956-1969. Song For My Father dates from 1964 and is one of the pianist's most famous albums. The title cut became a hit and a jazz standard while the original program also included notable Silver originals in "Calcutta Cutie" and "Lonely Woman," plus Joe Henderson's "The Kicker." While "Calcutta Cutie" features the famous Silver Quintet frontline of trumpeter Blue Mitchell and tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook, the remainder of the set has the equally rewarding trumpeter Carmell Jones and Joe Henderson on tenor. The CD reissue of this classic program adds four additional performances including "Sanctimonious Sam" and a trio rendition of "Que Pasa."

Virtually all of Horace Silver's Blue Note recordings are very rewarding, but Song For My Father is among his very best and is highly recommended.

—Scott Yanow

Product Info

Cover art displayed on website may vary from product shipped. Please see printed catalog for accurate cover art.

Contents

Remastered!

Song for My Father; The Natives Are Restless Tonight; Calcutta Cutie; Que Pasa?*; The Kicker; Lonely Woman; Sanctimonious Sam; Sighin' and Cryin'; Silver Treads Among My Soul.

(*Includes alternate version.)

Horace Silver, Piano; Roy Brooks, Roger Humphries, Drums; Carmell Jones, Blue Mitchell, Trumpets; Teddy Smith, Gene Taylor, Bass; Junior Cook, Joe Henderson, Tenor Saxes.

CD Special Features

Blue Note's Greatest Sessions

• Newly remastered by the original recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder.

• Stunning sound using 24-bit analog to digital transfers.

• New essay by Bob Blumenthal added to the original liner notes.

• Bonus tracks and session photos where available.