MAY 29

             HORACE SILVER
           A Prescription For The Blues 

               Recording Date:
                   May 29-30, 1997

               Personnel:
                   Randy Brecker   TP
                   Michael Brecker TS
                   Horace Silver     P
                   Ron Carter         B
                   Louis Hayes        D

                                                                                                  



LINK RETIRED

Reviewby Scott Yanow

Pianist/composer Horace Silver teams up with the Brecker Brothers (both of whom used to be in his quintet) and a veteran rhythm section of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Louis Hayes to debut nine of his originals. The funny part about Silver's music is that, no matter who he is paying tribute to (this set includes a song for Lester Young), the style always ends up sounding like Horace Silver, with no real reference to the subject matter. All of the music on this date is very much in Silver's funky hard bop tradition, in the phrasing, catchy themes, concise solos by tenor Michael and trumpeter Randy Brecker, and the pianist's distinctive and quote-filled improvisations. None of the melodies are all that memorable ("Walk On" has the best chance of catching on), so there are probably no future "hits" on this collection. But it is a joy to hear Horace Silver still playing in his prime at the age of 68.