Horace Silver Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse
Horace Silver's Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse arrives as a revelatory snapshot of the pianist's mid-1960s fire, restored with impressive clarity and bristling live energy. Across two professional reviews, critics praise the record's ensemble interplay and the raw momentum captured on stage, arguing that the archive's sound brings renewed immediacy to classic Silver compositions.
The critical consensus, reflected in an 85/100 score across 2 professional reviews, highlights standout tracks that define the set: “Song For My Father - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965” and “The Kicker - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965” emerge repeatedly as the best songs on the album, with “Sayonara Blues - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965” and “No Smokin' - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965” also singled out. Reviewers consistently note Woody Shaw's crackling trumpet, Joe Henderson's spotlighted tenor work, and the spirited drumming that propels extended solos and post-bop improvisation, making a persuasive case for the album's historical significance and live performance vitality.
While both reviewers celebrate the archival restoration and the chemistry of Silver and his young hot sidemen, they temper praise with an evaluative stance: the release is prized for documentarian importance as much as for outright novelty. For readers searching for a Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse review or wondering whether the collection is worth listening to, the consensus suggests it is an essential, well-restored live document of Horace Silver's classic repertoire and a vivid reminder of his ensemble's onstage strengths.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Song For My Father - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
2 mentions
"Henderson largely grabs the spotlight on "Song for My Father," having helped make the dancey, Brazilian-tinged anthem a jukebox hit"— AllMusic
The Kicker - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
2 mentions
"he bursts out of the gate on the opening rendition of Henderson's "The Kicker," his crackling tone"— AllMusic
Sayonara Blues - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
2 mentions
"1962's "Sayonara Blues" ... benefit from Shaw's edgy, post-bop style"— AllMusic
Henderson largely grabs the spotlight on "Song for My Father," having helped make the dancey, Brazilian-tinged anthem a jukebox hit
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
The Kicker - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
Song For My Father - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
The Cape Verdean Blues - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
Sayonara Blues - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
Band Introductions - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
No Smokin' - Live at The Penthouse, Seattle, WA / 1965
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In a vivid, restorative account the reviewer celebrates Horace Silver's Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse, singling out “The Kicker” and “Song For My Father” as the evening's high points. The prose is admiring and attentive - Shaw's crackling tone on “The Kicker” and Henderson's spotlighted turn on “Song For My Father” are offered as clear reasons these are the best tracks on the album. The narrative emphasizes restored audio clarity and the group's adventurous post-bop interplay, explaining why listeners searching for the best songs on Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse should start with those performances. The voice remains evaluative and historical, framing these tracks as exemplary moments in Silver's vital mid-'60s period.
Key Points
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Shaw's crackling trumpet on "The Kicker" makes it the album's standout performance.
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The album's core strengths are vivid restored sound, combustible live energy, and adventurous post-bop interplay.
Themes
Critic's Take
Horace Silver comes through vividly on Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse, and the review makes clear the best songs on the album are its classics such as “Song for My Father” and “Sayonara Blues”. Jim Hynes writes with enthusiasm about extended, invigorating solos that make “The Kicker” and “No Smokin'” stand out, praising Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson in language that is both celebratory and exact. The narrative stresses how audience-friendly heads give way to ambitious improvisation, explaining why listeners searching for the best tracks on this album will gravitate to these named performances. The tone is knowledgeable, excited, and specific, recommending this release as a much-needed dose of Silver with superb young sidemen.
Key Points
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The best song is "Song for My Father" for its extended, audience-pleasing performance and Henderson’s increasingly intense solo.
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The album’s core strengths are energetic live interplay, extended solos by young virtuosos, and invigorating drumming that elevate classic Silver compositions.