LIVE AT NEWPORT '58

Personnel: Horace Silver (piano); Junior Cook (tenor saxophone); Louis Smith (trumpet); Gene Taylor (acoustic bass); Louis Hayes (drums). Composer and pianist Horace Silver was one of the leading lights of the post-bop movement, and LIVE AT NEWPORT '58 captures him in his prime. Leading a crack quintet (which includes trumpeter Louis Smith and saxophonist Junior Cook) through four slinking, swinging tunes, Silver turns in a wonderful set. The set opens with "Tippin'," a hard swinger, then segues to "The Outlaw," a composition in the classic Silver mode, incorporating exotic rhythms, complex melodic leads, and deep grooves. "Senor Blues," a cool-toned blues, and "Cool Eyes," a frenetic bop workout, are equally impressive. The tunes are extended, and feature plenty of top-flight improvisation from the musicians, making for a memorable live date worth picking up.

• Genre: Jazz
• Format: CD
• Released: 2/05/2008