Song for My Father

Pianist Horace Silver made his name on some of Art Blakey’s hardest-charging recordings, but this set of primarily original compositions reveals Silver at his most melodically inclined, particularly on the funky, Brazilian-inspired title track. (His comping, meanwhile, is in powerful form on "The Natives Are Restless Tonight".) Among the two lineups that trade off supporting duties, saxophonist Joe Henderson earns distinction for writing “The Kicker” (the burner on the set), as well as for his robust tenor soloing on the title track. This is hard bop at its lyrical best.