It is hard to believe, but this 2007 release on Blue Note (presumably found somewhere deep within their vaults) is now the earliest complete live recording by Horace Silver currently available. The quintet on this date only had two remaining members from Silver’s classic 1956 group (Junior Cook and Louis Hayes), but new members Louis Smith and Gene Taylor do more than hold their own. This lineup would only be around for a short time, making this recording all the more historically important. The set was comprised of four Silver originals, all very well known to jazz fans of that era. All the music is classic hard bop and played to perfection by Silver and his quintet. Enjoy!
Released 2007 (Recorded 1958) – Blue Note Records – Catalog # 6328
Players:
Horace Silver – Piano
Junior Cook – Tenor Sax
Louis Smith – Trumpet
Gene Taylor – Bass
Louis Hayes – Drums
Amazing that this concert had to wait so long before its release…
I’m confused, does the live recording from “Live at Birdland” with Blakey, Brown and Donaldson not count as a live recording of Horace Silver?
Nice to hear Louis Smith, I am not familiar. Seems to have led a similar career to Marcus Belgrave.
To be precise, it is the earliest official live recording of Silver as the leader of his own group. The “A Night at Birdland” Blue Note recordings are credited to the Art Blakey Quintet, but definitely feature some great playing by a young Silver. I will post some of Louis Smith’s Blue Note recordings soon…