Saturday October 25, 2025, 16:00 CET – The Great American Songbook.
Hard bop pianist Horace Silver (1928-2014) produced an impressive number of compositions. A large number of these were given lyrics, some written by Silver himself, some written by others. More than enough to fill two programs. In this first part: the 1950s.
Horace Silver is the common theme—around that theme, there is a lot of variation.
In the early 1950s, Silver began playing with drummer Art Blakey, a collaboration that lasted four years. In 1954, the live album A Night at Birdland (Blue Note) was released. In 1955, At the Cafe Bohemia (Blue Note). Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (Blue Note 1955) was a milestone in the development of hard bop. This style blended influences from blues, rhythm & blue and gospel, and was “more accessible” than the prevailing bebop.
Silver’s relationship with the Blue Note Records label would last for some 25 years.
Come on Home
A delightfully swinging opening by vocalist Trudy Kerr. On her album Cloudburst, she sang interpretations of fourteen instrumental compositions—including compositions by Coltrane, Mingus, Monk and Clifford Brown.
Doodlin’
The vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer released the album Vibrate in 2004. This album featured Doodlin’. A group with four voices offers several textural possibilities: 4-part close harmony, 1 solo voice + 3 accompanying voices, 2 against 2, and rapid transitions between all of these. This quartet knows how to exploit them all.
Home Cookin’
Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter are the two vocalists on the album of the same name. Virtuoso scat by Poindexter.
Cookin’ at The Continental
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross!: The Hottest New Group In Jazz is the full title of this 1959 album. Annie Ross is also present here. This vocal trio features a previously unmentioned texture: unisono, or one-part harmony. That’s also a possibility. The quality—and appeal—lies in the fast tempo, combined with a fast melodic rhythm, within which a lot of text has to be processed. Perfectly sung! Swinging scat solos.
Peace
After the sizzling “Cookin’,” we shift gears considerably to a chamber setting and a slower tempo. Vocals (Ineke Vandoorn), guitar (Marc van Vugt) and trumpet (Eric Vloeimans). Sit still, close your eyes.
Señor Blues
Chris Connor sings this blues on Chris in Person, her 1960 live album, recorded at New York’s Village Vanguard. Her timing contrasts beautifully with the constantly repeated, tight rhythm of the accompanists. Guitarist Kenny Burrell also takes a brief solo.
Sister Sadie
Singer Fay Victor released In My Own Room (Timeless Records) in 1998. In Silver’s Sister Sadie, we hear her at the beginning and at the end. However, the vast majority of the playing time is reserved for guitarist Pete Soto and Dutch saxophonist Marc Mommaas. And they make it a real party.
St Vitus Dance
Carmen Souza (1981) is Portuguese singer with Cape Verdean roots. Thse roots are a connection to Horace Silver’s background—he was also Cape Verdean. The 2019 CD The Silver Messengers is entirely dedicated to Silver. With her elastic voice, Souza sings Silver’s original piano solos. With and without lyrics—her own. A sparse, highly functional instrumental accompaniment.
You Happenend My Way & Blowin’ the Blues Away
Two tracks from the album Love and Peace: A Tribute to Horace Silver (1995). Vocalist: Dee Dee Bridgewater. Buckle up for “Blowin…” A whirlwind, culminating in a grand finale three-quarters of the way through. Hein van de Geyn, who also wrote the arrangements, is on bass.
Nica’s Dream + Nica’s Dream
This composition by Horace Silver, which has been covered over 150 times, is a tribute to “bebop baroness” Pannonica de Koenigswarter.. This noblewoman played a special role in New York’s jazz scene. She organized jam sessions, transported musicians in her Bentley, and gave them money for rent, groceries, and hospital visits. She had special relationships with Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk.
You’ll hear a vocal version by Stephanie Nakasian, recorded on the album Show Me The Way from 2012.
The final track in this playlist is by Horace Silver himself. Lineup: Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Junior Cook (tenor sax), Gene Taylor (bass), and Roy Brooks (drums) playing another version of “Nica’s Dream”. This time from the album Horace-Scope, The Horace Silver Quintet, Blue Note 1960.
The Great American Songbook – Ineke Heijliger
