Horace Silver had been delivering hard bop classic after hard bop classic for more than a decade when he shifted gears and began moving into more groovy territory with 1966’s The Jody Grind. When the pianist next went into Van Gelder Studio in 1968 he kept it funky with another memorable soul jazz outing on Serenade to a Soul Sister. The album, which presented six Silver originals, was recorded between two sessions held a month apart with two different quintets. The first date featured Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums, and produced Side 1 of the LP including the high-octane opener “Psychedelic Sally” and the groove waltz “Serenade to a Soul Sister.” The second date also featured Tolliver but with Bennie Maupin on tenor saxophone, John Williams on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums. The three tunes captured by the latter quintet comprise Side 2 including the percolating “Jungle Juice” and tender ballad “Next Time I Fall In Love” which closes the album.
This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.