Song for My Father Horace Silver Quintet Artist

One of {|Blue Note|}'s greatest mainstream {|hard bop|} dates, {|Song for My Father|} is {|Horace Silver|}'s signature LP and the peak of a discography already studded with classics. {|Silver|} was always a master at balancing jumping rhythms with co... Read more

One of {|Blue Note|}'s greatest mainstream {|hard bop|} dates, {|Song for My Father|} is {|Horace Silver|}'s signature LP and the peak of a discography already studded with classics. {|Silver|} was always a master at balancing jumping rhythms with complex harmonies for a unique blend of earthiness and sophistication, and {|Song for My Father|} has perhaps the most sophisticated air of all his albums. Part of the reason is the faintly exotic tint that comes from {|Silver|}'s flowering fascination with rhythms and modes from overseas -- the {|bossa nova|} beat of the classic {|Song for My Father,|} for example, or the Eastern-flavored theme of {|Calcutta Cutie,|} or the tropical-sounding rhythms of {|Que Pasa?|} Subtle touches like these alter {|Silver|}'s core sound just enough to bring out its hidden class, which is why the album has become such a favorite source of upscale ambience. {|Song for My Father|} was actually far less focused in its origins than the typical {|Silver|} project; it dates from the period when {|Silver|} was disbanding his classic quintet and assembling a new group, and it features performances from both bands. Still, it hangs together remarkably well, and {|Silver|}'s writing is at its tightest and catchiest. The title cut became {|Silver|}'s best-known composition, partly because it provided the musical basis for {|jazz-rock|} group {|Steely Dan|}'s biggest {|pop|} hit {|Rikki Don't Lose That Number.|} Another {|hard bop|} standard is introduced here in the lone non-{|Silver|} tune, tenor saxophonist {|Joe Henderson|}'s {|The Kicker,|} covered often for the challenge of its stuttering phrases and intricate rhythms. Yet somehow it comes off as warm and inviting as the rest of the album, which is necessary for all {|jazz|} collections -- mainstream {|hard bop|} rarely comes as good as {|Song for My Father|}. ~ Steve Huey Less