Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Horace Silver, RIP
Discovered in 1950 by Stan Getz playing in a Connecticut club. An essential element in the Art Blakey group - with Clifford Brown on trumpet - that made the landmark 1954 Live at Birdland album, leader of so many great groups on his own, composer of such classics as "Nica's Dream," "Song for My Father," "Nutville," and this 1965 romp.
He was one of those jazz greats with a strong visual presence. He made such great facial expressions while he played, and was generally photographed smiling. The arc of his life exhibited abundant warmth and a delight in continual discovery of ever-deeper levels of the meaning of human existence.
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This is only a test: What does he have to do with Steely Dan?
ReplyDeleteThe four-bar intro to "Song for My Father" is also the four-bar intro to "Rikki Don't Lose That Number."
ReplyDeleteElementary for the bloggie, but I had no clue until today. And I thought I was somewhat versed in jazz. Horace Silver was not a recognizable name to mere jazztasters like Miles, Herbie, Getz, Chick, etc.
ReplyDeleteHe is all over the Blue Note catalogue from the 50s and 60s
ReplyDelete