Here are ten tracks showcasing the utter beauty of
Horace Silver's playing -- and in some cases, composing -- jazz ballads. These tunes are lushly romantic and utterly soulful. Recorded between 1952 and 1968, this collection features such notable
Silver compositions as "Peace," "Shirl," "Sweet Stuff," "Lonely Woman," and the gorgeous "Next Time I Fall in Love." The rest is choice as well -- especially for a budget-priced set -- and includes
Silver's read of
Duke Ellington's masterpiece "Prelude to a Kiss," accompanied by
Art Blakey and
Curly Russell from 1952, and Guy Wood and Robert Mellin's "My One and Only Love," with
Art Farmer,
Hank Mobley,
Louis Hayes, and
Teddy Kotick. This isn't the funky, soul-jazzin'
Silver, but the romantic, poetic balladeer whispering to lovers. ~ Thom Jurek