Silver's Blue
Horace Silver · 1957
44 min · 7 tracks · jazz
A vibrant blend of intricate rhythms and soulful melodies, showcasing Silver's signature hard bop style.
Top tracks — play these first
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Silver’s Blue Start here — The title track embodies the album's essence with its lush harmonies and emotional depth, reflecting Silver's distinct compositional style.
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How Long Has This Been Going On? — This cover highlights Silver's ability to reinterpret standards, infusing them with his characteristic rhythmic drive and rich harmonic textures.
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The Night Has a Thousand Eyes — A captivating rendition that showcases the band's tight interplay and Silver’s inventive piano lines, making it a memorable centerpiece of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album features strong compositions and varied arrangements, making it rewarding for repeated listens.
What we noticed
- The opening track features a slow, bluesy theme that sets a reflective mood, while the following tracks introduce more intricate rhythms and faster tempos.
- Each piece showcases a different arrangement, with varying instrumentation and solos that highlight the individual musicians' skills.
- The album closes with a track that shifts back to a slower tempo, providing a sense of resolution after the dynamic interplay of the previous pieces.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective moments with peaks
- celebratory grooves for reflection
- soulful melodies inviting contemplation
- dynamic progression through emotions
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer straightforward, short tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Solidified Silver's reputation in hard bop, showcasing innovative arrangements.
- Career context
- Released in 1957, Silver's Blue came during Horace Silver's ascent as a leading figure in the hard bop movement. This album followed his critically acclaimed work on 'Song for My Father' and solidified his reputation for combining jazz with gospel and blues influences, demonstrating his growth as both a composer and bandleader.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Art Blakey· Thelonious Monk· McCoy Tyner
Tracklist
- 1 Silver’s Blue Start here 7:48
- 2 To Beat or Not to Beat 4:06
- 3 How Long Has This Been Going On? 4:21
- 4 I’ll Know 7:28
- 5 Shoutin’ Out 6:36
- 6 Hank’s Tune 5:29
- 7 The Night Has a Thousand Eyes 8:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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