1964 masterwork with Freddie Hubbard, Herbie, Elvin Jones and Ron Carter, tersely melding avant, modal and bop. “Wild flowers and strange, dimly-seen shapes… I was thinking of things like witch burnings, too.”

Siggy was the piano accompanist of Archie Sheep over several decades; he recorded with Dizzy Reece and Hal Singer.
Here is his key LP as leader, in 1971 — with bassist Gus Nemeth and percussionist Stu Martin — edging from post-Trane into free jazz, with an ear for the contemporary electroacoustic music of Xenakis, Berio and co.

‘Classic Vinyl.’

From 1956, recycling the previous year’s Jazz Messengers, subbing Louis Hayes for Blakey. Apparently Silver wasn’t planning on becoming a bandleader, but the success of Señor Blues propelled him forwards. Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd in full effect.

Featuring the almightily beloved, filial jazz standard.
Stevie nicked the horn riff for Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing. (Steely Dan and Madlib followed suit.)
The great pianist in between bands in 1963-4, with Joe Henderson and Carmell Jones. Monumental hard bop; a key Blue Note.
‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

From August 1965, pitched between the sessions for Song For My Father and Cape Verdean Blues. Both classic numbers are here, in scorching renditions. Twenty-year-old Woody Shaw announces himself in fine style on the helter-skelter opener Kicker. Joe Henderson plays a blinder in Silver’s shows around this time, gloriously cutting loose on the hits. You need this LP plus the Ezzthetics CD Live New York Revisited, which dovetails nicely. Hot stuff.

Acoustic Sounds LP.

The George Harrison… Just Like A Woman detourned… O-o-h Child, Mr Bojangles… even an uptempo, conga-driven My Way.