| Album | Blowin’ the Blues Away |
| Artist | Horace Silver |
| Year | 1959 |
| Personnel | Horace Silver (piano), Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Junior Cook (tenor saxophone), Eugene Taylor (bass), Louis Hayes (drums) |
| Era / Style | Hard Bop / Soul Jazz |
| Favorite Tracks | “The St. Vitus Dance,” “Peace,” “Melancholy Mood” |
| First Listen Reaction | A worthwhile listening experience with several standout tracks, though the album as a whole felt uneven to me. |
| Atmosphere / Mood Tags | soulful, bluesy, reflective, energetic, occasionally contemplative |
| Standout Sound or Instrument | Eugene Taylor’s quiet, supportive bass and the trio’s more lyrical moments |
| Listening Context | Multiple focused listening sessions while exploring classic hard bop |
| Revisit Status | unlikely revisit |
| Led Me To… | More Eugene Taylor; quieter Horace Silver recording |
LISTENING NOTES:
I enjoyed several pieces on this album, especially “The St. Vitus Dance,” “Peace,” and “Melancholy Mood.” Eugene Taylor’s bass was particularly appealing whenever it came forward in the ensemble. While I appreciate Horace Silver’s musicianship and compositional strengths, I found his piano touch heavier and more forceful than the spacious, lyrical style I usually prefer. As a result, the album felt somewhat uneven overall. I expect to revisit certain tracks, especially the quieter ones, but the album as a whole is not essential for my collection
A Great Horace Silver Quote
Jazz is not background music. You must concentrate upon it in order to get the most of it.
You must absorb most of it. The harmonies within the music can relax, soothe, relax, and uplift the
mind when you concentrate upon and absorb it. Jazz music stimulates the minds and uplifts the souls
of those who play it was well as of those who listen to immerse themselves in it. As the mind is
stimulated and the soul uplifted, this is eventually reflected in the body.~ Horace Silver
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