Horace Silver - Finger Poppin'

Down Beat : 07/09/1959
John A. Tynan : 4 stars

This is hard-swinging jazz from New York, blessed by good soloists and a rhythm section as effective as the drummer is dynamic.

Although trumpeter Mitchell has recorded previously, this appears to be the tenor man Cook’s debut on record. The latter shows himself to be an intense, thoughtful, and constructive soloist, not in a hurry to say his piece and making his contributions mean something.

Finger is a frantic opener with the speed of the tempo vanquishing the overall effect. In short, its effect is largely lost. Juicy is a more moderate-tempoed lope based on a simple modern line with meaningful solos.

The Samba is an absorbing excursion of unusual construction into Afro-Cuban lore. The chorus runs 16 bars, 16 bars, and a six-bar bridge followed by a final 16 bars. It’s an adventuresome outing for the collective and the individual.

After the fast blues, Cookin’, there’s a laconic journey into funk on Home with some typically spare Silver piano. You Happened is a fine showcase for Mitchell’s full trumpet in slow, balladic manner, and the concluding Mellow is up and stomping with Cook flexing his muscles.