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Jazz Pianist and Hard Bop Composer Horace Silver Dies at 85

When I first heard Horace Silver play piano, I said to myself, "this fellow must have been groomed in the African America church." Not quite...but somewhat close: his mother was of Irish-African descent, and did sing in church; and his father was of Afro-Portuguese heritage.

One could detect in his unique, straight-ahead jazz style, gospel, blues, soul and funk - well before the latter adjective found its way into the music lexicon. 

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers: Doodlin'

http://youtu.be/tu4o65SwUIw

Horace Silver Quintet/1959: Senor Blues

http://youtu.be/Lecamup2yko

His two-fisted staccato approach on the piano was patented: no other pianist sounded like him. A number of jazz writers not only praised his musicianship, but as ridiculous as it sounds, applauded the way he would sweat while at work! And there are many photos of silver, hunched over the piano keys, his face drenched with sweat, pouring his soul into a solo. Yes, the writers were right: with his straight, black hair dangling about his face, he was photogenic when sweating profusely, and photographers liked to capture him in that mode.

Horace Ward Tavares Silver passed away June 18, at age 85. But he left behind a rich legacy, and a legendary name as a jazz musician, bandleader, and composer of jazz standards, such as, "Senor Blues,” “Song For My Father,” “The Preacher,” "Sister Sadie," “Strollin," and a beautiful ballad and heart massager titled “Peace.”  

One of my favorite Horace Silver CDs is his cleverly titled, Six Pieces of Silver.

Adios, Senor Blues.

Also known as "BP with the GM," (translation: "Bob Perkins with the Good Music"), Mr. Perkins has been in the broadcasting industry for more than five decades as an on-air host, and is now commonly referred to as a Philadelphia jazz radio legend.