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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)
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Jazz Hymns For The Intermediate Pianist arranged by Mark Hayes | Jazz Hymns For The Intermediate Pianist arranged by Mark Hayes | |
Jazz improvisation 1 Handbook (Performing Arts Institute) | ||
Jazz Improvisation 2 Handbook Master Bebop (Performing Arts Institute) | Jazz Improvisation 2 Handbook Master Bebop | |
Jazz Improvisation Handbook 1 by Alex Noppe | Jazz Improvisation Handbook 1 by Alex Noppe | |
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Jazz Improvisation Handbook 3 by Alex Noppe Modern Jazz | Jazz Improvisation Handbook 3 by Alex Noppe Modern Jazz | |
Jazz Improvisation Handbook 4 by Alex Noppe Practicing Jazz | Jazz Improvisation Handbook 4 by Alex Noppe Practicing Jazz | |
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Jazz Licks Encyclopedia (Guitar with Tablature) | ||
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Jazz Masters 2010 Jazz Masters (Book) | ||
Jazz Method Coltrane Patterns | Jazz Method Coltrane Patterns | |
Jazz Minuet No. 1 – Oscar Peterson (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Jazz of the 50s Jazz Fake Book | jazz of the 50s | |
JAZZ ON THE SCREEN – A Jazz and Blues Filmography by David Meeker (Book) | ||
Jazz Patterns – by Jerry Coker Jimmy Casale Gary Campbell Jerry Greene | Jazz Patterns | |
Jazz Pedagogy by David Baker Jaz education method for teacher and student | ||
Jazz Piano 1 Transcribed Solos By Brian Priestley | Jazz Piano 1 Transcribed Solos By Brian Priestley | |
Jazz Piano A Jazz History Billy Taylor 1921 2010 Book | ||
Jazz Piano Best Selection | Jazz Piano Best Selection | |
Jazz Piano Cocktails. Volume 1 | Jazz Piano Cocktails. Volume 1 | |
Jazz Piano Cocktails. Volume 2 | Jazz Piano Cocktails. Volume 2 | |
Jazz Piano Legends Partitures Collections | Jazz Piano Legends | |
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Jazz Piano New Standard Vol. 1 | Jazz Piano New Standard Vol. 1 | |
Jazz piano pieces grade 1 ABRSM (The Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) | Jazz piano pieces grade 1 | |
Jazz piano pieces grade 2 ABRSM (The Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) | Jazz piano pieces grade 2 | |
Jazz piano pieces grade 3 ABRSM (The Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) | Jazz piano grade 3 | |
Jazz piano pieces grade 4 ABRSM (The Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) | Jazz piano grade 4 | |
Jazz Piano Pieces Grade 5 ABRSM (The Associated Board Of Royal Schools Of Music) | Jazz piano piedces grade 5 | |
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Jazz Piano Schule Die – Der Leichte Einstieg In Die Welt Des Jazz-Piano-Spiels Lehrbuch Für Klavier (Michael Gundlach) Book | ||
Jazz Piano Solos – Oscar Peterson | Jazz piano solos sheet music | |
Jazz Piano Solos Front Line | Jazz Piano Solos Front Line | |
Jazz Piano Solos Vol 12 Swinging Jazz | swinging jazz | |
Jazz Piano Solos Volume 13 – Jazz Gems | Jazz Piano Solos Volume 13 – Jazz Gems | |
Jazz Piano Solos Volume 15 – Bossa Nova | Jazz Piano solos Bossa Nova | |
Jazz Piano The Left Hand (The Steinway Library of Piano Music) | Jazz Piano The Left Hand (The Steinway Library of Piano Music) | |
Jazz Pieces For Piano Issue 1 1982 | ||
Jazz Pieces For Piano Issue 2 1986 | ||
Jazz Play Along – Favorite Standards “Out of Nowhere” by Edward Heyman and Johnny Green | Aebersold – Vol 22 – Favorite Standards – Disk 02 – Track 05 – Out of Nowhere | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 142 – Charlie Parker Gems With Audio Mp3 Tracks | Hal_Leonard_-_Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_142_-_Charlie_Parker_Gems | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 71 – Cole Porter Classics With Audio Mp3 Tracks | Jazz play along Vol.71 – Cole Porter Classics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 74 – Best Jazz Classics with MP3 audio tracks | JAZZ PLAY ALONG – Vol.74 – Best Jazz Classics | |
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Jazz Play Along Billy Joel Vol. 181 With Audio Mp3 Tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 181 Billy Joel | |
Jazz Play Along CLASSIC JAZZ BALLADS VOL. 72 (with audio MP3) | Hal Leonard – Vol.72 – Classic Jazz Ballads | |
Jazz Play Along Henry Mancini Vol. 154 With Audio Mp3 Tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 154 Henry Mancini | |
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Jazz Play Along Vol. 01 – Duke Ellington with audio MP3 | Jazz Play-Along Vol. 01 – Duke Ellington with audio MP3 | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 100 – Louis Armstrong PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_100_-_Louis_Armstrong | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 102 – Jazz Pop PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_102_-_Jazz_Pop | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 104 – Elton John with audio MP3 | Jazz Play-Along Vol. 104 – Elton John with audio MP3 | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 105 – Soulful Jazz with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | JAZZ PLAY ALONG – Vol.105 – Soulful Jazz (C,Bb,Eb) | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 106 – Slo’ Jazz with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Hal Leonard – Vol.106 – Slo’ Jazz | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 107 – Motown Classics with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Hal Leonard – Vol.107 – Motown Classics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 11 Rodgers & Hart Favourites (with MP3) | Jazz Play Along Vol. 11 Rodgers HArt Favourites | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 117 Antonio Carlos Jobim More Hits + MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol. 117 Antonio Carlos Jobim More Hits | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 12 Essential Jazz Classics With Audio Mp3 | Jazz Play-Along Vol. 12 – Essential Jazz Classics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 122 – Paul Simon with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Hal Leonard – Vol.122 – Paul Simon | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 123 – Bacharach and David PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_123_-_Bacharach_amp_David | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 127 – Chuck Mangione PDF with MP3 audio tracks | undefinedJazz_Play_Along_Vol_127_-_Chuck_Mangione | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 13 – John Coltrane – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.13 – John Coltrane | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 132 – Stan Getz Essentials with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_132_-_Stan_Getz_Essentials | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 133 – Stan Getz Favorites with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_133_-_Stan_Getz_Favorites | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 139 – Julian Cannonball Adderley + MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_139_-_Julian_Cannonball_Adderley | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 14 – Irving Berlin with audio MP3 | Jazz Play-Along Volume 14 – Irving Berlin_compressed | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 14 Herbie Hancock (with MP3) | Jazz Play Along Vol. 14 Herbie Hancock | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 146 Ramsey Lewis with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 146 Ramsey Lewis | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 147 Samba with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 147 Samba | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 15 – Rodgers & Hammerstein – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.15 – Rodgers & Hammerstein | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 150 – Jazz Improv Basics with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_150_-_Jazz_Improv_Basics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 153 – Kenny Garrett with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_153_-_Kenny_Garrett | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 155 Smooth Jazz Classics with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 155 Smooth Jazz Classics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 158 Jazz Covers Rock with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz Play Along Vol 158 Jazz Covers Rock | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 16 Cole Porter With Audio Mp3 | Jazz Play-Along Vol. 16 – Cole Porter | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 164 – Herb Alpert with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_164_-_Herb_Alpert | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 165 George Benson with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 165 George Benson | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 17 – Count Basie – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.17 – Count Basie | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 174 – Tin Pan Alley with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_174_-_Tin_Pan_Alley | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 177 – II-V-I PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz_Play_Along_Vol_177_-_II-V-I | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 178 Jazz Funk with MP3 audio tracks to Play Along | Jazz Play Along Vol 178 Jazz Funk | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 18 Harold Arlen (with MP3) | Harold Arlen play along | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 180 Michael Jackson with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 180 Michaiel Jackson | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 182 Rhapsody in Blues with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 182 Rhapsody In Blue | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 185 Jazz Fusion with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Vol 185 Jazz Fusion | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 19 – Cool Jazz with MP3 audio tracks | Jazz Play Along Volume 19 – Cool Jazz with MP3 audio tracks sheet music pdf | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 20 – Christmas Carols – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.20 – Christmas Carols | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 21 – Rodgers & Hart Classics (with audio MP3) | Rodgers & Hart Classics | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 22 – Wayne Shorter – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.22 – Wayne Shorter | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 23 – Latin Jazz – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.23 – Latin Jazz (Bb,Eb) | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 24 – Early Jazz Standards – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Early Jazz Standards Jazz Play Along Volume 24 | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 25 – Christmas Jazz – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.25 – Christmas Jazz | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 26 – Charlie Parker – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.26 – Charlie Parker | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 27 – Great Jazz Standards with audio MP3 | vol 27 great jazz standards | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 28 – Big Band Era – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.28 – Big Band Era | |
Jazz Play Along Vol. 29 – John Lennon & Paul McCartney – PDF with MP3 audio tracks | Hal Leonard – Vol.29 – Lennon & McCartney | |
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