Horace Silver

Horace Silver was born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva on September 2, 1928 in Norwalk, CT. His father was of Portuguese descent and his mother was of Irish and African descent. He was introduced to Portuguese music through his father.

Horace began playing the saxophone and switched to the piano in high school. After high school he led trios in Connecticut and he was discovered by Stan Getz in 1950. Getz brought him on the road and it was with Getz that Silver made his first recording.

In 1951 he moved to NYC where he met Art Blakey. They were to form the Jazz Messengers and in 1953-56 they recorded some fine albums. Horace branched out in 1956 and started leading his own groups. He began recording for Blue Note and would stay with them until 1980. He stayed very busy recording and composing.

After leaving Blue Note in 1980 Silver recorded on his own label (Silveto). He continued to record and tour throughout the 1980's and 1990's. He is the composer of such tunes as "Blowin' the Blues Away," "Sister Sadie," "Peace," "Song for my Father," and "The Tokyo Blues." He was a pioneer in the style known as "hard bop" and presently lives in California.

I just finished listening to "Blowin' the Blues Away." This is a 1959 Blue Note release. It includes Silver's compositions "Blowin' the Blues Away," "Peace," "Sister Sadie," and "Melancholy Mood."

The quintet lineup includes Horace Silver on piano, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Junior Cook on tenor saxophone, Gene Taylor on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums.





Here's a video of the young Horace playing "Song for my Father."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8B2GZ0MfuPQ