Search - Horace Silver :: In Pursuit of the 27th Man

Good Ol' Horace

Fresh Scent | Philadelphia | 12/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD offers a glimpse of Horace's '70s work, and he sticks to what he does best. The album sounds a bit different than most Van Gelder recordings, probably due to updated recording equipment and the overall '70s vibe. But the songs are good, especially "Liberated Brother" which has an awesome groove laid down by Mickey Roker. Hey, it may not be one of his classics, but if you are a Horace fan you won't be disappointed with this CD. Nice to see Blue Note reissuing some of the obscure stuff."

Swings like Clockwork

Kenneth Seidman | Victoria, BC | 10/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reviewer: Ken Seidman from Victoria, BC
This recording definitely has a bit of "showbiz" sheen to it, but, as another customer reviewer has said, it also has a dark day and mysterious depth to it that makes for an interesting tension. The soloing and ensemble work is immaculate throughout and I have always found it exceptionally accessible to the ear. It grabs you and doesn't let go. "Gregory is Here" should be singled out for its straight ahead and insistent joy (a quality of much of Horace's music!). The quiet tunes have a very special reflective feeling to them, almost trance like, much of course owing to the great vibes work. A wonderful record for musicians to learn from and for anyone to enjoy!"

A real triumph

George Kaplan | 08/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always been partial to Horace's 70s output, work that combines fresh presentations with more adventurous harmonics. While kind of a forgotten record (stuck in that bad-old late 60's jazz limbo) this CD is a great example of how Horace stretched himself, and the receptive listener too.



Featuring five fresh Silver compositions and two imports that he easily made his own, the key tonal difference here is the presence of Friedman's vibes on four cuts. "Summer", a rare Silver waltz, glistens with beautiful warm-weather chords, while "Strange Vibes" lays down a mean misterioso groove. The fast-mambo title cut drives with incredible momentum, alternating Latin and swing.



The quintet cuts are a little more conventional Horace. The Irvine cut is a joyous Latin number, a great way to kick off the disc, while "Nothing" is straight down the middle of the Horace fairway. "Gregory", after his new-born son, is simply one of the 4 or 5 greatest Horace Silver compositions of all time, inventive, exciting (Latin again) and rewarding.



Horace Silver wouldn't return to the recording studio for an unbelieveable 750 days (I counted) with the monumental Silver 'n Brass LP. But I bet you could spin this one daily while you waited and never be bored."