Thursday Night Jazz: Roger Humphries Big Band Plays the Music of Horace Silver

Roger Humphries’ 10-piece band honors and celebrates the late, great hard bop pianist and composer Horace Silver. In 1964, Roger went to New York to join the Horace Silver Quintet. While with Silver, Roger recorded three albums: Song For My Father, Cape Verdean Blues, and Jody Grind, with Song for My Father (1965) taking its place as one of the most legendary albums of our time. 

Horace Silver was the heart of the hard bop era, helping to form the influential Jazz Messengers and composing many blues and gospel-flavored songs that have become part of the jazz canon, including “Lonely Woman,” “Song For My Father,” “Señor Blues,” “The Preacher,” “Nica’s Dream,” and “Peace.” His piano playing was heavily rhythmic, driving his musical colleagues to greater heights in their solos. Learn more about Horace Silver in his National Endowment for the Arts profile. 

About the Artist:

Roger Humphries was still a toddler when his family first discovered his early talent for playing drums. He began playing professionally at 14, and within two years, he was leading his own group at Carnegie Music Hall. Music critics rate Roger as one of the most exciting percussionists in the business. He has provided the rhythmic beat for such greats as Ray Charles, Horace Silver, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Stanley Turrentine, James Moody, Lee Morgan, Dr. Billy Taylor, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Dizzy Gillespie, and countless others. After playing with various groups around the country, ace drummer Roger Humphries decided to organize his own group in 1972, which he calls RH Factor.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit OpenTable or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.