Horace Silver: Jazz Has a Sense of Humor

As corporate takeover games morph the old Impulse! imprimatur into Verve, and the major’s relentless publicity machines posture this as “Horace Silver’s Verve debut!” we must avoid rampant sarcasm and see it as Horace suggests, remembering that jazz has a sense of humor. And who better to deliver that timeless message than the man who gave us such soulful silliness as “Psychedelic Sally,” the saga of “Filthy McNasty” and “Dufus Rufus,” taking us all the way to “Nutville,” after we quaffed “Too Much Sake.”

This time out he leaves us laughin’ and swingin’ courtesy of “The Mama Suite (Not Enough Mama, Too Much Mama, Just Right Mama). ” Humor has always been part of the Horace Silver alchemy-“Philley Millie” indeed-generally delivered by a quintet, which in this case is the all-new and potent lineup of Ryan Kisor on trumpet, Jimmy Green on saxes, John Webber on bass, and drummer Willie Jones lll. Guaranteed, as always, to move the feet and bring a smile to the face.

Originally Published September 1, 1999