great classic in the history of Hard Bop, such as the album “Song for my Father” by the American pianist and composer Horace Silver (1928-2014), one of the most outstanding artists in the history of Jazz of the 50s and 60s. and that had great influence in the later development of contemporary jazz.
Artist: Horace Silver
Title: Song for my Father
Year: 1965
The cover of this album features a photograph of Silver's father, John Tavares Silver, to whom he dedicated the composition of the main theme of this work, considered one of the great masterpieces of the hardbop period in jazz, for its elaborate, sophisticated and sophisticated style. catchy.
Since Horace Silver settled in New York in 1951, he began to play as a sideman alongside jazz greats, soon joining forces with the great drummer Art Blakey recording “Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers” (Blue Note, 1955), fundamental album in the evolution of hard bop. Many of Silver's songs for himself ("The Preacher", "Doodlin '", "Room 608") became very popular pieces.
In 1954 he was also part of the Miles Davis band, recording four albums in the same year, although some were published later: "Miles Davis Volume 1" (1954, Blue Note), "Blue Haze" (1956, Prestige), "Walkin '" (1957, Prestige) and "Bags' Groove" (1957, Prestige).
However, his participation in the creation of the "Jazz Messengers" was the true starting point for a brilliant career, both as a composer and as a pianist. Silver would last a short time at the Messengers and in 1961 he toured the world visiting and playing in Europe and Japan for countless festivals, concerts and television programs. The records that he would record at that time for Blue Note "Blowin 'the Blues Away" and "Song for My Father" (with trumpeter Blue Mitchell and Junior Cook tenor sax), would definitely establish him as one of the most important composers and pianists. of jazz history.