Let‘s Get to the Nitty Gritty

‘As one of the major figures in the history of jazz, Horace Silver‘s reminiscences are priceless. Simply put, the man is a national treasure. Horace‘s sensitivity, passions and creative sources emerge in this engaging book, a tribute to his determination and to Phil Pastras‘ skill and sensitivity as an editor. It will be celebrated by jazz scholars and fans everywhere.‘—Steven Isoardi, author of The Dark Tree and Central Avenue Sounds ‘Horace Silver stands as one of the last ‘jazz giants‘ remaining from the incredible efflorescence of bebop-based music in the 1950s. For that reason alone his book would be an important contribution. But this is more than a mere memoir of a golden age long past. Silver‘s prose style is much like his musical style: earthy, vernacular, populist. His unique take on the music and the people who play it provides valuable insights into the creative processes of jazz and the social and cultural worlds in which jazz musicians live and work. His recounts of the lessons learned from listening to and playing alongside Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, Jimmie Lunceford, and Lester Young, as well as many lesser-known figures, are particularly revealing.‘—David Ake, author of Jazz Cultures