Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty: The Autobiography of Horace Silver

By Horace Silver

Book Overview

Horace Silver is one of the last giants remaining from the incredible flowering and creative extension of bebop music that became known as "hard bop" in the 1950s. This freewheeling autobiography of the great composer, pianist, and bandleader takes us from his childhood in Norwalk, Connecticut, through his rise to fame as a musician in New York, to his comfortable life "after the road" in California. During that time, Silver composed an impressive repertoire of tunes that have become standards and recorded a number of classic albums. Well-seasoned with anecdotes about the music, the musicians, and the milieu in which he worked and prospered, Silver's narrative--like his music--is earthy, vernacular, and intimate. His stories resonate with lessons learned from hearing and playing alongside such legends as Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young. His irrepressible sense of humor combined with his distinctive spirituality make his account both entertaining and inspiring. Most importantly, Silver's unique take on the music and the people who play it opens a window onto the creative process of jazz and the social and cultural worlds in which it flourishes.

Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty also describes Silver's spiritual awakening in the late 1970s. This transformation found its expression in the electronic and vocal music of the three-part work called The United States of Mind and eventually led the musician to start his own record label, Silveto. Silver details the economic forces that eventually persuaded him to put Silveto to rest and to return to the studios of major jazz recording labels like Columbia, Impulse, and Verve, where he continued expanding his catalogue of new compositions and recordings that are at least as impressive as his earlier work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520253922
• ISBN13: 9780520253926
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I'm glad he wrote it !

I have been a fan of Horace Silver for many years and I am grateful that he took the time and effort to share the story of his life with us. The tone of the book is personal. It is not a jazz history or an analysis of his compositions. It's like he is as happy to have you read it as you are in reading it. I learned much about the man. His appreciation for his friends and for his own life is inspirational. That he has had a very long career as a jazz musician and manged to stay away from drugs when so many of his associates were complete addicts is a point to be admired. The scope of his work is beyond what I had imagined. If you are a fan of Horace and his music you will enjoy reading his viewpoint of his own life.

Still Living Jazz Great's Autobiography

Horace Silver is one of the few surviving masters from the golden years of jazz. He tells us about growing up in Connecticut, coming to NYC in the early 1950's when it seemed that there were jazz clubs everywhere. He provides the reader with valuable insights into his piano playing and composing talent. His first big time experience was with Stan Getz. Then with Coleman Hawkins, Lou Donaldson and on to Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. He played with Lester Young and Miles Davis. Then he started with his famous quintets which featured Kenny Dorham,Hank Mobley, Doug Watkins and later on Donald Byrd,Art Farmer,Clifford Jordan,Louis Smith,Junior Cook,Blue Mitchell, Carmell Jones and Joe Henderson. I very much enjoyed his perspective on the illustrious past and the many stories related in this book. Well worthwhile read for any jazz enthusiast. An excellent discography is included.

It's About Time

I don't think I can say much about Horace that hasn't already been said other than he is my primary musical influence. I love his compositions and I love his approach to the piano. I consider him as a "father of funk" as well as hard bop. I was so happy that someone got a chance to speak with Horace in depth before he leaves us. I already deeply regret that I will most likely never get a chance to see him perform live. I highly recommend his autobiography to any true fan.

GREAT NITTY GRITTY!!!!!!

Horace Silver's book reads like a Horace Silver piano solo sounds. This is a down to earth statement about the life and times of a "Jazz Messenger" and survivor of one of the most creative and undocumented eras of Black Music. Horace gives us first hand accounts of what it was like to perform with Sonny Stitt, Art Blakey, Stan Getz, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Big Nick, Lockjaw Davis, Kenny Clarke and many others. His anecdotes, like his quoting of different tunes during his piano solos, are often humorous and relevant to his central theme, the joys and hardships of life and music. I loved the book from beginning to end. I recommend it along with "RACE MUSIC", by GUthrie P. Ramsey, JR, and "Miles the Autobiography" by Quincy Troupe to all who are interested in the history of African American music and history in the post WWII era.