In this set of nine originals, the
Horace Silver touch is clearly evident: happy, strong melodies; groovin' beats;
Silver's deft, deliberate,
bluesy piano comping and boppin' leads; and the joyful playing of saxophonist
Jimmy Greene and trumpeter
Ryan Kisor, which seems to be more intense in the context of
Silver's unmistakable compositions. The CD's title is in reference to the album's content (and that the listener has to go along with
Silver's adoration in a nonsexist way toward women). Some might be offended by the title
"I Love Annie's Fanny," but it's just the name of a bouncy, mainstream
jazz ditty that
Silver is so well known for writing. There are some cliches that pop up in old
Silver numbers that he seems to have rewritten. Phrases of
"Cape Verdean Blues" creep into the urgent first movement of
"The Mama Suite," and his typical groove
waltz is extant in the opener
"Satisfaction Guaranteed" and the closer
"Where Do I Go From Here?" But his tunefully familiar, head-noddin' original
funk is a vital as ever, and sounds pretty fresh compared to some of the trite
neo-bop being reprocessed this past decade.
Silver's light, spare,
soulful style -- particularly when he uses his left hand in tandem with
John Webber's bass -- is a sound for sore ears, one that has a universal, timeless appeal, crossing generational and commercial barriers. This is well-played music, a specialty
Silver has envisioned and realized through the bulk of his career. Highly recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos
