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
Tracklist:
1 Song for My Father 7:18
Horace Silver
2 The Natives Are Restless Tonight 6:10
Horace Silver
3 Calcutta Cutie 8:31
Horace Silver
4 Que Pasa? 7:47
Horace Silver
5 The Kicker 5:26
Joe Henderson
6 Lonely Woman 7:02
Horace Silver
Credits:
Piano – Horace Silver
Bass – Gene Taylor (tracks: 3, 6), Teddy Smith (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Drums – Roger Humphries (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Roy Brooks (tracks: 3, 6)
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell (tracks: 3, 6), Carmell Jones (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Junior Cook (tracks: 3, 6)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
