Junior Cook Quintet At Onkel Po’s Carnegie Hall Hamburg 1976

This could also be felt in March 1976 at the concert given by the quintet, whose leader Louis Hayes was, at “Onkel Pö’s Carnegie Hall” in Hamburg-Eppendorf; and this even without any compositions by Silver on the playlist of the evening. Silver was there: also because Woody Shaw had been influenced by him, too. The trumpeter turned 32 in the year this recording was made and was already on track for a career, which would make him one of the most important representatives of contemporary jazz (silenced way too early!). Shaw died in 1989, not even 45 years old. Already almost completely blind, he lost an arm in a subway-accident. Shortly afterwards his body just gave up. Recordings of Shaw together with his own ensemble are among the highlights of the “Onkel Pö”-series and more will follow soon. Shaw is exemplary for the musician at the crossroad between tradition on the one side and change on the other. He was able to perform freely but still keep a close attachment to the masters who had influenced and formed him. Until today he is one of the great forbears and casts a long shadow on young musicians, who again and again explore the narrow path which separates tradition and progress.