Horace Silver is probably the musician I have spent the most time with, and is still one of my absolute favorites to listen to and study. In the forward to Horace’s autobiography, “Let’s Get to the Nitty-Gritty”, pianist Joe Zawinul writes:

“Throughout the history of music, there have been thousands of master players, artists and composers. Yet each generation has produced relatively few individuals with something so distinctive, personal and recognizable that when you hear the music not only do you know whose music it is but it also seems that you know that person.”

I can go on and on about the influence and importance of Horace’s music, the many musicians who have come out of his groups and who have further developed his style or the countless tribute projects and re-recording of his original music. But instead, I invite you to listen to the track “The St. Vitus Dance” from his masterpiece album Blowin’ the Blues Away :

Horace’s compositions and piano playing, while using certain familiar stylistic elements, in my opinion transcend “Jazz” and are unique phenomena unto themselves. As is the case with iconoclasts, examine any page of his music and you will discover brilliant moments that make the music so fresh and compellingly personal. “The St. Vitus Dance” is no exception, and it offers a worthy study in rhythm, voice leading, motivic development and orchestrating on the piano. For an added bonus, after you play this transcription try playing it in a few other keys, it’s sure to make you appreciate it even more!