Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Carmell Jones (trumpet), Horace Silver (piano), Teddy Smith (bass) and Roger Humphries (drums). From the album Song for My Father (1965).
This album was inspired by a trip that Silver made to Brazil. On the cover is his father, of Portuguese origin, to whom Silver dedicated the title track of the album. Silver has always being a master at combining danceable rhythms with complex harmonies, and because of this, Song for My Father is one of his most sophisticated albums. He had a fascination for foreign rhythms.
Album cover
The album was recorded in the period when Silver was going to dissolve its classic quintet to form a new band, and contains themes from both groups. Jazz critic Steve Huey said: “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... it hangs together remarkably well, and Silver's writing is at his tightest and catchiest.”
Restless natives
The theme goes to medium-fast tempo and its melody is quite unusual. Jones begins his solo with quick phrases that he plays one after the other. Next comes Henderson with long melodic lines to extract the maximum possibilities from the instrument. Sometimes he plays repetitive phrases and his solo is full of strength and energy. Then Silver appears with a calm speech that is encouraged as time goes by and gives a feeling of rhythmic impetus. After that, Smith makes a walk giving way to Humphries’ solo, which is like a big rumble, and finally the group re-exposes the theme.
