Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty: The Autobiography of Horace Silver

Horace Silver stands as one of the last remaining giants from the extraordinary flourishing and creative expansion of bebop music that evolved into 'hard bop' in the 1950s. This freewheeling autobiography from the great composer, pianist, and band leader takes us on a journey from his childhood in Norwalk, Connecticut, through his ascent to musical fame in New York, to his contented life 'after the road' in California. Throughout this period, Silver composed an impressive body of tunes that have become enduring standards and recorded a number of classic albums.

Richly seasoned with anecdotes about the music, the musicians, and the environment in which he worked and thrived, Silver's narrative – much like his music – is down-to-earth, vernacular, and deeply personal. His stories resonate with the lessons he absorbed from hearing and playing alongside such legendary figures as Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young. His irrepressible sense of humour, combined with his distinctive spirituality, makes his account both thoroughly entertaining and profoundly inspiring.

Crucially, Silver's unique perspective on the music and the individuals who create it offers a valuable window into the creative process of jazz and the social and cultural worlds in which it flourishes. "Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty" also chronicles Silver's spiritual awakening in the late 1970s. This transformation found its expression in the electronic and vocal music of his three-part work, "The United States of Mind," and ultimately led the musician to establish his own record label, Silveto. Silver details the economic pressures that eventually led him to close Silveto and return to the studios of major jazz recording labels such as Columbia, Impulse, and Verve, where he continued to expand his impressive catalogue of new compositions and recordings, work that stands shoulder to shoulder with his earlier achievements.