Horace Silver

Horace Silver grafted Bop's advances with more accessible Gospel and blues-derived sounds, helping to create Hard Bop in the process. Silver is an ace songwriter and an accomplished pianist who was discovered by Stan Getz at age 22, later getting together with drummer Art Blakey and forming the Jazz Messengers -- "The Preacher" and "Doodlin'" from this period were juke joint staples and have become jazz standards. Silver has had an exceptional career leading his own groups and the album Song For My Father is only one of his classics -- its joyous celebration of life and overall sensitive mood remain staples in Silver's work.