Horace Silver: The African Queen

This was a breakthrough recording for Woody Shawfor me, the first fully realized representation of the innovations that he would bring to the jazz trumpet vocabulary. Many of Woodys signature melodic formations are present in his solo, such as his systematic use of pentatonic and fourth-based permutations leading to wider interval jumps, and the in-to-out sequencing and side-slipping. And the poise of his playing is beautiful; everything Woodys going for is coming off here, with beautiful sound and pinpoint, nuanced articulation. Its a truly incredible achievement for a 20-year-old player to have his own vocabulary and style so fully formed so quick!