In Pursuit of the 27th Man

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey in 1973, with a quintet featuring Randy Brecker and Tom Harrell on trumpets, Bob Berg on tenor saxophone, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums. The title track of Silver's Blue Note album marked a continued refinement of his hard bop compositional voice at a time when jazz was fragmenting into fusion and free directions, affirming his commitment to accessible, groove-rooted acoustic jazz. The album and its title track are regarded as among Silver's finest 1970s output, and the composition has remained a staple of hard bop repertoire, performed widely by jazz education ensembles and working bands seeking to connect with the Silver tradition.