Table of Contents:
Horace Silver: The Top 25 pearls in Jazz history
Horace Silver biography
From the perspective of the 21st century, it is clear that few jazz musicians had a greater impact on the contemporary mainstream than Horace Silver. The hard bop style that Silver pioneered in the ’50s is now dominant, played not only by holdovers from an earlier generation, but also by fuzzy-cheeked musicians who had yet to be born when the music fell out of critical favor in the ’60s and ’70s.
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Silver’s earliest musical influence was the Cape Verdean folk music he heard from his Portuguese-born father. Later, after he had begun playing piano and saxophone as a high schooler, Silver came under the spell of blues singers and boogie-woogie pianists, as well as boppers like Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell.
In 1950, Stan Getz played a concert in Hartford, Connecticut, with a pickup rhythm section that included Silver, drummer Walter Bolden, and bassist Joe Calloway. So impressed was Getz, he hired the whole trio. Silver had been saving his money to move to New York anyway; his hiring by Getz sealed the deal.
Silver worked with Getz for a year, then began to freelance around the city with such big-time players as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Oscar Pettiford. In 1952, he recorded with Lou Donaldson for the Blue Note label; this date led him to his first recordings as a leader. In 1953, he joined forces with Art Blakey to form a cooperative under their joint leadership.
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The band’s first album, Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers, was a milestone in the development of the genre that came to be known as hard bop. Many of the tunes penned by Silver for that record — “The Preacher,” “Doodlin’,” “Room 608” — became jazz classics.
By 1956, Silver had left the Messengers to record on his own. The series of Blue Note albums that followed established him for all time as one of jazz’s major composer/pianists. LPs like Blowin’ the Blues Away and Song for My Father (both recorded by an ensemble that included Silver’s longtime sidemen Blue Mitchell and Junior Cook) featured Silver’s harmonically sophisticated and formally distinctive compositions for small jazz ensemble.
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Silver’s piano style — terse, imaginative, and utterly funky — became a model for subsequent mainstream pianists to emulate. Some of the most influential horn players of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s first attained a measure of prominence with Silver — musicians like Donald Byrd, Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Benny Golson, and the Brecker Brothers all played in Silver’s band at a point early in their careers. Silver has even affected members of the avant-garde; Cecil Taylor confesses a Silver influence, and trumpeter Dave Douglas played briefly in a Silver combo.
Silver recorded exclusively for Blue Note until that label’s eclipse in the late ’70s, whereupon he started his own label, Silveto. Horace Silver’s ’80s work was poorly distributed.
During that time he began writing lyrics to his compositions, and his work began to display a concern with music’s metaphysical powers, as exemplified by album titles like Music to Ease Your Disease and Spiritualizing the Senses. In the ’90s, Silver abandoned his label venture and began recording for Columbia.
With his re-emergence on a major label, Silver once again received a measure of the attention his contributions deserve. Certainly, no one ever contributed a larger and more vital body of original compositions to the jazz canon. Silver died in New York on June 18, 2014, at the age of 85.
He had a son, Gregory – now a rap musician under the name of G Wise – from his marriage to Barbara, which ended in divorce.
Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver, pianist and composer, born 2 September 1928, died 18 June 2014.
Selected Discography
Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers, Blue Note, 1954
Blowin’ the Blues Away, Blue Note, 1959
Song For My Father, Blue Note, 1964
Cape Verdean Blues, Blue Note, 1965
The Hardbop Grandpop, GRP, 1996
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Horace Silver – Blowin The Blues Away
Personnel:
Horace Silver – piano
Blue Mitchell – trumpet
Junior Cook – tenor saxophone
Gene Taylor – bass
Louis Hayes – drums
from the album ‘BLOWIN’ THE BLUES AWAY’ (Blue Note Records)
Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
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George Gershwin – Rialto Ripples |
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George Gershwin – Summertime | ||
George Gershwin – Summertime (Piano, Vocal, Guitar chords) |
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George Gershwin – Summertime Arr. For Guitar solo |
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George Gershwin – The Life And Music Of (book by David Ewen) 1956 |
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George Gershwin – The Memory Of All That The Life of George Gershwin (book by Joan Peyser) |
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George Gershwin – Will Donaldson – Rialto Ripples (Ragtime – Rag) | George Gershwin – Will Donaldson – Rialto Ripples (Ragtime – Rag) | |
George Gershwin -The Gershwin Style (New Looks at the Music of George Gershwin) Book by Wayne Schneider |
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George Gershwin An Intimate Portrait by Walter Rimler (Book) |
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George Gershwin and Oscar Peterson Recueil Jazz Compositions Collection |
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George Gershwin and Oscar Peterson Recueil Jazz Compositions Collection |
George Gershwin His Life And Work by Howard Pollack (Book) |
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George Gershwin Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 26 (George Gershwin) |
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George Gershwin Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 26 (George Gershwin) |
George Gershwin Jazz Songs Sheet Music | George Gershwin Jazz Songs Sheet Music | |
George Gershwin That Certain Feeling |
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George Gershwin The Complete Gershwin Preludes Book |
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George Gershwin The Complete Gershwin Preludes Book |
George Harrison – Anthology (Guitar tabs) 24 greatest hits |
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George Harrison – Anthology (Guitar tabs) 24 greatest hits |
George Harrison (The Beatles) – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Guitar Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
George Harrison Songbook The dark horse years 1976-1992 (Piano,Guitar,Vocal) |
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George Harrison Songbook The dark horse years 1976-1992 (Piano,Guitar,Vocal) |
George Lynch – Signature Licks [Guitar Tabs] |
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George Lynch – Signature Licks [Guitar Lessons Tabs] |
George Michael – A Different Corner | ||
George Michael – Careless Whisper | ||
George Michael – Faith | ||
George Michael – I Cant Make You Love Me | ||
George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen, The best of |
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George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen, The best of |
George Shearing – It Never Entered My Mind |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (Guitar arr. with TABs) |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (sheet music transcription) | George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (sheet music transcription) | |
George Shearing – The Artistry of |
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George Shearing – The Artistry of |
George Shearing – To Bill Evans | George Shearing – To Bill Evans | |
George Shearing Interpretations For Piano |
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George Shearing Interpretations For Piano |
George Shearing Mack the knife | Mack the knife georges Shearing | |
George Winston – Canon In D | ||
George Winston – December – Piano Solos |
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George Winston – December – Piano Solos |
George Winston – Joy | ||
George Winston – Moon | ||
George Winston – Piano Solos |
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Autumn/Winter into Spring/December/Summer/Ballads and Blues 1972/Forest |
George Winston – Thanksgiving | ||
George Winston – The Holly And The Ivy | ||
George Winston Joy (Sheet Music) | George Winston – Joy | |
George Winston Piano Solos Book |
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Georges Brassens Premières Chansons (1942-1949) Prologue de Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
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Georges Brassens – Guitare 1 (40 Partitions Musicales) | George Brassens | |
Georges Brassens – il n’y a pas d’Amour Heureux piano arr. |
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Georges Brassens Jai Rendez-Vous Avec Vous Français French (Intégrale Des Chansons, Paroles Et Musiques) Book |
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Georges Brassens Top Volume 1 (Piano-guitar-vocal) |
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Georges Brassens Top Volume 1 (Piano-guitar-vocal) |
Georges Gershwin I Got Rhythm Jazz Standard arr. Carsten Gerlitz |
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Georges Gershwin The Gershwin Collection For Solo Guitar By Howard Morgen With Tablature |
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Georges Gershwin The Gershwin Collection For Solo Guitar By Howard Morgen With Tablature |
Georges Moustaki – Ma Liberté (Easy Piano Solo Arr.) |
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Georges Moutsaki – Ma Liberté (Easy Piano Solo arr.) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Georgia on my mind (Lead sheet) | ||
Georgia on My Mind (Sheet Music) – Ray Charles |
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Geri Halliwell – Its Raining Men | ||
German Folk Songs |
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German Overtures, Collection – For Piano Four Hands Vol. 1 And 2 (1909) | German Overtures, Collection – For Piano Four Hands Vol. 1 And 2 (1909) | |
Gerry Mulligan Favorites |
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Gerry Mulligan Favorites |
Gershwin Impromptu In Two Keys |
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Gershwin – 3 Preludes piano solo | Gershwin – 3 Preludes piano | |
Gershwin – An American In Paris (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ Porgy and Bess | George Gershwin – I Got Plenty O Nuttin | |
Gershwin – I Loves You Porgy | George Gershwin – I Loves You Porgy | |
Gershwin – It’s Easy To Play George Gershwin |
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George Gershwin – It’s Easy To Play George Gershwin |
Gershwin – Limehouse Nights |
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Gershwin – Medley From The George White Scandals Of 1921 (with lyrics) |
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Gershwin – Meet Gershwin At The Piano (Book) |
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Gershwin – Meet Gershwin At The Piano |
Gershwin – Own Transcriptions for the piano |
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Gershwin – Own Transcriptions |
Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue ( 2 Pianos ) | Gershwin Rhapsody in blue 2 pianos | |
Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue (Solo Piano) | Gershwin Rhapsody in blue | |
Gershwin – Rialto Ripples (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – S Wonderful S Marvelous S Gershwin (Piano and vocal) |
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Gershwin – S Wonderful S Marvelous S Gershwin |
Gershwin – Summertime (some diff. versions) | Gershwin – Summertime | |
Gershwin – Summertime Piano Solo |
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Gershwin – Summertime (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – Summertime (original) | Gershwin – Summertime (original) | |
Gershwin – Summertime (Solo by Miles Davis) | George Gershwin – Summertime (Solo – Miles Davis) | |
Gershwin – That certain Feeling (sheet music) |
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Gershwin – The glory of Gershwin [piano vocal chords] |
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Gershwin – The glory of Gershwin |
Gershwin – The Greatest Songs Of George Gershwin |
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George Gershwin – The Greatest Songs Of George Gershwin |
Gershwin – The Man I Love (Piano) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin 12 Arrangements For Classic Guitar By John W Duarte |
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Gershwin 12 Arrangements For Classic Guitar |
Gershwin 3 Preludes for 2 pianos (four hands ) | Gershwin – Stone – 3 Preludes for 2 pianos four hands | |
Gershwin A Foggy Day | ||
Gershwin A Foggy Day – Jazz Masters Play Gershwin(Guitar with Tablature) |
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Gershwin An American in Paris (transcription for piano solo) | Gershwin An american in Paris | |
Gershwin Cole Porter Do_It_Again.mscz | ||
Gershwin Do Do Do (Piano Solo) |
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Gershwin Experiment David Cope – Prelude | Gershwin Experiment David Cope Prelude | |
Gershwin Guitar Songbook taught by Fred Sokolow with Tablature |
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Gershwin Guitar Songbook taught by Fred Sokolow |
Gershwin It ain’t necessarily so | ||
Gershwin Jazz Interpretations |
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Gershwin Jazz |
Gershwin Jeff Manookian Concert Paraphrase on I love you Porgy | Gerswhin_Jeff Manookian Concert Paraphrase on I love you Porgy | |
Gershwin Porgy And Bess Selection (Voice & Piano) |
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Gershwin Porgy And Bess Selection (Voice & Piano) |
Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue (Piano Solo Arr.) |
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Gershwin Songbook (Piano Solo) |
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Gershwin–Songbook–Sheet music |
Gershwin The Man I Love (piano solo) | ||
Gershwin, George The Man I Love (Piano Solo Arr. By Percy Grainger) Sheet Music |
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Gershwin, George – Impromptu in Two Keys | Gershwin – Impromptu in two keys | |
Gershwin, George I Got Rhythm Variations for piano and orchestra (Piano Score) |
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Gershwin, George works can be found in Jazz/Standards section and also in Musicals | ||
Gershwin’s Melodies By Yuri Markin For 4 Hands Piano | Gershwin’s Melodies By Yuri Markin For 4 Hands Piano | |
Get Back – John Lennon And McCartney Guitar Play Along | Get Back – Lennon And Mccartney Guitar Play Along Volume 25 with embedded audio MP3 | |
Get Over It – Dream Of Me | ||
Gettysburg – Dawn – Randy Edelman | ||
Getz Gilberto – Corcovado quiet nights | Corcovado | |
GFTPM (Guitar Tab Songbook) Acoustic Classics (Tabs with Audio Mp3 Tracks Play Along)) | GFTPM – acoustic classics | |
Ghibli Medley – Studio Ghibli film music arr. piano |
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GHOST Alex North Unchained Melody |
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Ghost The Musical |
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Ghost The Musical |
Giacomo Puccini – O Mio Babbino Caro (Guitar arr. sheet music with TABs) | Giacomo Puccini – O Mio Babbino Caro (Guitar arr. sheet music with TABs) | |
Giant Steps (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Giants of Jazz Piano, The |
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Giants of Jazz Piano The |
Giazotto Albinoni Adagio (In G Minor) For Solo Piano |
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Gieseking, Walter & Karl Leimer – Piano Technique |
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Gilbert Sullivan – It’s Easy To Play Gilbert Sullivan |
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Gilbert & Sullivan – It’s Easy To Play Gilbert & Sullivan |
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Greatest Hits (Songbook) |
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Gilbert O’Sullivan – Greatest Hits (Songbook) |
Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
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Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
Gilberto Gil vol 1 Guitar songbook |
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Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
Giles Vigneault – Un Dimanche à Kyoto (Paroles et Musique) |
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Gillock , William – Autumn Sketch Piano Solo |
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