Horace Silver: Song For My Father

This is the title track of what is arguably Horace Silver's greatest album, and undoubtedly his biggest hit as well. It's from the first release by Silver's then-new quintet, formed after he broke up the band that had served him so well for five years (1959-64).

Silver wrote "Song For My Father" after visiting pianist Sergio Mendes in Brazil, and considering that Silver's father came from the Cape Verde Islands, the Portuguese/Brazilian connection was a natural. The opening vamp (later borrowed by Steely Dan for its hit "Rikki Don't Lose That Number") leads to one of Silver's most affecting themes, and then to perfect solos by, respectively, the leader and Joe Henderson. Henderson's is one of the great motivically based solos in recorded jazzall derived from his three opening notes. And it's as soulful and exciting as it is ingenious.