Horace Silver Blowin The Blues Away
Released 1959
Recorded August 29-30 & September 13, 1959
Label Blue Note
Format:Mp3@320
Besides the wildly popular Somg For My Father, the second most acclaimed Horace Silver disc is the endlessly enjoyable Blowin The Blues Away. This 1959 Blue Note date features the pianist in full stride with a quintet that includes trumpeter Blue Mitchell and saxophonist Junior Cook, two fellow proponents of funky hard bop. The gospel and R&B influence in Silver's approach is evident as finger-snapping grooves support bouncing melodies that bubble and pop with every chorus. As the title suggests, this music is a celebratory fanfare that washes away the hardships of everyday life.
The explosive title track opens the session with a bang as the group burns through the changes with tight precision and plenty of spirit. The jazzier "The St. Vitus Dance" is a swinging trio cut with hints of an Ellington influence among the bopping lines of Silver's solo. The most well known tunes here are the lush ballad "Peace," featuring outstanding work by Mitchell, and the classic "Sister Sadie," one of the most recorded Silver compositions in the jazz repertoire. Other highlights of this exemplary session are the bebop-flavored "Break City" and the aptly titled ballad "Melancholy Mood."
Tracklist:
1."Blowin' the Blues Away" - 4:44
2."The St. Vitus Dance" - 4:09
3."Break City" - 4:57
4."Peace" - 6:02
5."Sister Sadie" - 6:19
6."The Baghdad Blues" - 4:52
7."Melancholy Mood" - 7:10
8."How Did It Happen" - 4:41 Bonus track on CD
Recorded August 29 (tracks 1, 6), August 30 (#3, 4, 5, 8 ) & September 13 (#2, 7), 1959.
Personnel
•Horace Silver - piano
•Blue Mitchell - trumpet (tracks 1, 3-6 & 8 )
•Junior Cook - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3-6 & 8 )
•Gene Taylor - bass
•Louis Hayes - drums |
