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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.
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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Ireland, John – Soho Forenoons | ||
Ireland, John – Songs with Piano | Ireland, John – Songs with Piano | |
Irène – Laurent Aknin | Irène – Laurent Aknin1 | |
Irish Music for Guitar TABs (John Loesberg (arr.) | Irish Music for Guitar TABs (John Loesberg (arr.) | |
Irish Music, The Best of (Complete Sheet Music Editions) | Irish Music, The Best of (Complete Sheet Music Editions) | |
Iron Butterfly In-gadda-da-vida (full score) | Iron Butterfly In-gadda-da-vida (full score) | |
Iron Butterfly In-gadda-da-vida (piano-vocal-guitar) | Iron Butterfly In-gadda-da-vida (piano-vocal-guitar) | |
Iron Maiden – Jam With Iron Maiden ( PDF with MP3 audio tracks Guitar Tab Songbook) | Iron maiden | |
Iron Maiden – Anthology (Guitar Tab Songbook) | Iron Maiden – Anthology (Guitar Tab Songbook) | |
Iron Maiden – Brave New World (Full Album Guitar Score & Tab) | Iron Maiden – Brave New World (Full Album Guitar Score & Tab) | |
Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast | Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast | |
Irving Berlin – Alexander’s Ragtime Band | ||
Irving Berlin – Alice in Wonderland (The Centyry Girl) | ||
Irving Berlin – Puttin’ On The Ritz | Irving Berlin Puttin’ On The Ritz (piano solo) | |
Irving Berlin – Sisters (Sheet Music) – sheet music | ||
Irving Berlin – White Christmas – Movie Holiday Inn | ||
Irving Berlin – White Christmas (from the film Holiday Inn) lyrics and piano | ||
Irving Berlin – White Christmas (From The Film Holiday Inn) Lyrics And Piano (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Irving Berlin – White Christmas (from the film Holiday Inn) piano solo arr. | ||
Irving Berlin – White Christmas (Jazz Piano cover) | Irving Berlin – White Christmas (Jazz Piano cover) | |
Irving Berlin and G. W. Meyer – Good-Bye, Girlie, and Remember Me | ||
Irving Berlin and Ted Snyder – Dear Mayme. I Love You | ||
Irving Berlin Fake Book, The | Irving Berlin Fake Book, The | |
Irving Berlin I love piano | Irving Berlin I love piano | |
Irving Berlin Puttin’ On The Ritz (piano solo) | Irving Berlin Puttin’ On The Ritz (piano solo) | |
Irving Berlin Song Book | Irving Berlin Songbook | |
Irving Berlin, Geo. Whiting and Ted Snyder – My Wife’s Gone to the Countrey Hurrah | ||
Irving Berln – White Christmas (Jazz Piano Cover) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Irving Burgie Day O! Banana Boat Song Sheet Music Harry Belafonte | Irving Burgie Day O! Banana Boat Song Sheet Music Harry Belafonte | |
Irving Gordon – Unforgettable | Irving Gordon – Unforgettable | |
Isaac Albeniz – Asturias Leyenda Guitar arr..mscz | ||
Isaac Albeniz – Asturias – Leyenda (Guitar TAB sheet music, partitura) | Isaac Albeniz – Asturias – Leyenda (Guitar TAB sheet music, partitura) | |
Israel Kamakawio Ole Somewhere Over The Rainbow | ||
It Could Happen To You Jimmy Van Heusen Johnny Burke From The Film “and The Angels Sing” 1944 Jazz Standard (Vintage sheet music) | ||
It Had To Be You – Gus Kahn And Isham Jones (Musescore File).mscz | ||
It Had To Be You (Jazz Standard)- Gus Kahn And Isham Jones | It Had To Be You (Jazz Standard)- Gus Kahn And Isham Jones | |
It Never Entered My Mind – Rodgers And Hart (Musescore File).mscz | ||
It’s A Beautiful Day With Mister Rogers Easy Piano Songbook Piano Solos | Its A Beautiful Day With Mister Rogers Easy Piano Songbook Piano Solos | |
It’s Christmas Piano Favorites For Advanced Piano Dan Coates | Its Christmas Piano Favorites For Advanced Piano Dan Coates | |
It’s Easy To Play 90s Film Songs by Duro S. | Its Easy To Play 90s Film Songs by Duro S. | |
It’s Easy To Play Ballads | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Ballads | |
It’s easy to play Blues | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Blues | |
It’s Easy To Play Children’s Songs | It’s Easy To Play Children’s Songs | |
It’s Easy To Play Christmas Songs | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Christmas Songs | |
It’s Easy To Play Classic Film Themes | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Classic Film Themes | |
It’s easy to play Classics | Its easy to play Classics | |
It’s Easy To Play Classics 2 | Its EasyTo Play Classics 2 | |
It’s Easy To Play Folk | It’s Easy To Play Folk | |
It’s Easy To Play Gospels | Play Gospels | |
It’s Easy to Play Jazz | It’s Easy to Play Jazz | |
It’s Easy To Play Jerome Kern by Booth F. | Its Easy To Play Jerome Kern by Booth F. | |
It’s Easy To Play Latin | It’s Easy To Play Latin | |
It’s Easy To Play Love Songs | Love songs | |
It’s Easy To Play Marches | It’s Easy To Play Marches | |
It’s Easy To Play More Jazz (arranged by Christopher Norton) | It’s Easy To Play More Jazz (arranged by Christopher Norton) | |
It’s Easy To Play Music Hall by Booth F. | Its Easy To Play Music Hall by Booth F. | |
It’s Easy To Play New Film Themes | It’s Easy To Play New Film Themes | |
It’s Easy To Play New TV Themes | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play New TV Themes | |
It’s Easy To Play Norah Jones (Come away with me) | Its Easy To Play Norah Jones | |
It’s Easy To Play Opera | It’s Easy To Play Opera | |
It’s Easy To Play Piano Duets | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Piano Duets | |
It’s Easy To Play Pops 2 | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Pops 2 | |
It’s Easy To Play Pops 3 | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Pops 3 | |
It’s Easy To Play Popular Classics | Its Easy To Play Popular Classics | |
It’s Easy To Play Ragtime | Play Ragtime | |
It’s Easy To Play Rhythm & Blues | It’s Easy To Play Rhythm _ Blues | |
It’s Easy To Play Richard Clayderman | It’s Easy To Play Richard Clayderman | |
It’s Easy To Play Rock ‘n’ Roll | It’s Easy To Play Rock ‘n’ Roll | |
It’s Easy To Play Soft Rock | It’s Easy To Play Soft Rock | |
It’s Easy To Play Soul Classics | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Soul Classics | |
It’s Easy To Play Stevie Wonder by Day R. | Its Easy To Play Stevie Wonder by Day R. | |
It’s Easy To Play Swing | It’s Easy To Play Swing | |
It’s easy to play TV Action Themes | It’s easy to play TV Action Themes | |
It’s Easy To Play Waltzes | Various Artists – It’s Easy To Play Waltzes | |
Italian Jazz Standards – Real Book Antonio Ongarello (Guitar) | Italian Jazz standards | |
IU Celebrity Piano Solo sheet music | ||
IU Eight Piano lyrics sheet music | ||
IU Lilac Piano Solo sheet music | ||
IU Through The Night | ||
Ivan Lins Guitar Songbook Vol 1 by Almir Chediak | Ivan Lins Guitar Songbook Vol 1 by Almir Chediak | |
J S Bach – Air On The G String (Piano Solo Arr.) From Bwv 1068 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J S Bach Wachet Auf Ruft Uns Die Stimme Für Gitarre (Bwv 645) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J. Cree Fisher Piano Tuning (1907) | J Cree Fisher Piano Tuning | |
J. S. Bach – Sheep May Safely Graze (Schafe Könen Sicher Beiden) Aria From The Secular Cantata Bwv 208 Piano Solo Arr. (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J.J. Cale Clyde Guitar And Vocal | ||
J.J. Cale The Very Best Of (Guitar Tablature Tabs And Vocal) | J.J. Cale The Very Best Of (Guitar Tablature Tabs And Vocal) | |
J.J. Johnson – Lament (Jazz Piano solo sheet music) | ||
J.S. Bach – Praeludium And Fuga I Bwv 846 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J.S. Bach – Prélude From Cello Suite No.1 – Easy Piano (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J.S. Bach – Toccata And Fugue In D Minor (Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
J’y suis jamais allé (Amelie soundtrack) Yann Tiersen | ||
Jack Bruce Wind And The Sea Bass Transcription | ||
Jack Fina – Bumble Boogie | ||
Jackson 5 Medley Concert Band Arr. Takashi Hoshide | Jackson 5 Medley Concert Band Arr. Takashi Hoshide | |
Jacky Cheung- Yao Yuan De Ta | Jacky Cheung | |
Jaco Pastorius – The Book of Jaco (sheet music transcriptions) | Jaco Pastorius – The Book of Jaco (sheet music transcriptions) | |
Jaco Pastorius – The Essential | Jaco Pastorius essential | |
Jaco Pastorius I shot the Sheriff (Bob Marley) Bass sheet music | Jaco Pastorius I shot the Sheriff (Bob Marley) Bass sheet music | |
Jaco Pastorius Step By Step Bass signature licks | Jaco Pastorius step by step | |
Jaco Pastorius The Greates Jazz Fusion Bass Player | Jaco Pastorius The Greates Jazz Fusion Bass Player | |
Jaco Pastorius Ultimate Minus One Bass Guitar Tabs | Jaco Pastorius ultimate | |
Jacob Collier Eleanor Rigby sheet music transcription (Piano Solo) | ||
Jacob Koller The Christmas Song | ||
Jacques Brel Les Plus Grandes Chansons (Piano & Guitar) | Jacques Brel Les Plus Grandes Chansons (Piano & Guitar) | |
Jacques Loussier Play Bach Book (intro in French) | Jacques Loussier – Play Bach | |
Jaki Byard – Bird’s Mother (sheet music transcription) | ||
Jam With Eric Clapton (Guitar Book and audio Mp3 tracks play along with Tablature) | Jam with Eric Clapton | |
James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go Sheet Music | ||
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover | ||
James Blunt – No Bravery | ||
James Blunt – You Are Beautiful | ||
James Bond – Diamonds Are Forever | ||
James Bond – Dr No | ||
James Bond – Dr No (Sheet music) | James Bond – dr No (Sheet music) | |
James Bond – For Your Eyes Only | James Bond – For Your Eyes Only | |
James Bond – From Russia With Love | James Bond – From Russia With Love | |
James Bond – Goldfinger | ||
James Bond – Live And Let Die | James Bond – live and let die | |
James Bond – Moonraker | James Bond – Moonraker | |
James Bond – Spy Who Loved Me | James Bond – spy who loved me |