The Horace Silver Quintet - Serenade to a Soul Sister

Title: Serenade to a Soul Sister Artist: The Horace Silver Quintet Release Date: 1968 Re-Released On: 1/13/2008 Label: Blue Note, Toshiba EMI, Blue Note Records Duration: 37:25 Album Type(s): Instrumental, lyrics/libretto UPCs: 077778427728, 4988006812116, 4988006840201, 724359432120, 0724359432151, 077778427742, 724359432151, 724359432229 Genre: Jazz Styles: Soul Jazz, Fusion, Hard Bop, Jazz Instrument, Piano Jazz Moods: Amiable/Good-Natured, Cheerful, Earthy, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Fun, Humorous, Joyous, Organic, Playful, Sophisticated, Stylish, Bravado, Carefree, Dramatic, Earnest, Energetic, Gritty, Happy, Literate, Lively, Party/Celebratory, Passionate, Rousing, Searching, Slick, Street-Smart, Uplifting, Warm, Witty, Wry Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Psychedelic Sally
2. Serenade to a Soul Sister
3. Rain Dance
4. Jungle Juice
5. Kindred Spirits
6. Next Time I Fall in Love

Year Type Label Catalog # 2008 CD Toshiba EMI 6685 2004 CD Blue Note 5943222 2004 CD Blue Note Records 94321 1995 CD Blue Note 84277 1988 CD Blue Note B2-84277

No other editions were found for this album.

One of the last great Horace Silver albums for Blue Note, Serenade to a Soul Sister is also one of the pianist's most infectiously cheerful, good-humored outings. It was recorded at two separate early-1968 sessions with two mostly different quintets, both featuring trumpeter Charles Tolliver and alternating tenor saxophonists Stanley Turrentine and Bennie Maupin, bassists Bob Cranshaw and John Williams, and drummers Mickey Roker and Billy Cobham. (Williams and Cobham were making some of their first recorded appearances since exiting the military.) Silver's economical, rhythmic piano style had often been described as funky, but the fantastic opener "Psychedelic Sally" makes that connection more explicit and contemporary, featuring a jubilant horn theme and a funky bass riff that both smack of memphis soul. (In fact, it's kind of a shame he didn't pursue this idea more.) Keeping the album's playful spirit going, "Rain Dance" is a campy American Indian-style theme, and "Jungle Juice" has a mysterious sort of exotic, tribal flavor. "Kindred Spirits" has a different, more ethereal sort of mystery, and "Serenade to a Soul Sister" is a warm, loose-swinging tribute. You'd never know this album was recorded in one of the most tumultuous years in American history, but as Silver says in the liner notes' indirect jab at the avant-garde, he simply didn't believe in allowing "politics, hatred, or anger" into his music. Whether you agree with that philosophy or not, it's hard to argue with musical results as joyous and tightly performed as Serenade to a Soul Sister. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alfred Lion Audio Production, Producer Bennie Maupin Reeds (Multiple), Sax (Tenor) Billy Cobham Engineer, Cover Photo, Drums Bob Blumenthal Liner Notes Bob Cranshaw Piano, Bass Charles Tolliver Trumpet Francis Wolff Photography, Producer Gordon Jee Creative Director Horace Silver Lyricist, Piano, Liner Notes, Original Liner Notes John "Buddy" Williams Bass John Williams Bass, Bass Micaela Boland Art Direction, Design Michael Cuscuna Reissue Producer Mickey Roker Drums Ron McMaster Digital Transfers Rudy Van Gelder Engineer, Remastering, Audio Engineer Stanley Turrentine Sax (Tenor)