The multifarious talents of Silver on display
What makes this CD so compelling to own, and so satisfying once you own it, is that you get to experience one of the great jazz musicians of all time exercising his considerable talent, skill, and judgment, in a variety of different musical capacities, all in one place. As a pianist, Silver was at the forefront for many years, as evidenced by his playing with so many other jazz talents, such as Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham and Miles Davis. All but one of the songs on this CD were written by Silver, so this CD displays the depth and musicality of Silver as a composer, a skill that is not always found in other jazz musicians. Indeed, if this collection contained Horace's signature piece, Song for My Father, this would be one of the most complete jazz composer works there is. (You can pick up Song for My Father with either Song for My Father or as part of a compilation, such as The Best Blue Note Album in the World Ever.) Finally, as a band leader and band assembler, you get a quintet on some songs and a trio on others, a unique sort of sound that allows this CD to settle down and pick up when it needs to. Most of the tracks are upbeat, fast moving, quick changing struts of rhythm and melody, like the title track and Break City, but there's also a dose of "off-color" blues in The Baghdad Blues, as well as a few well-spaced ballads. The Rudy Van Gelder remaster is reliable as always, although I think I heard a "pop" or two - nothing too distracting. In short, this CD shows the many ways Silver shines (sorry) in all musical dimensions and manners, and it will spend very little time on the shelf and lots of time in the CD player of any jazz fan who buys it.

Hard Bop "Must Have" Album
This is my favorite Horace Silver album, with The Hardbop Grandpop and several others close behind. This album has some great tunes that really move, such as the title tune, Break City and Sister Sadie. Sister Sadie alone is worth the price of the CD. The "slower" tunes are still inventive and lively, with room for the musicians to stretch out and shine. I also like Silver's better known "Song for my Father" album, but Blowin' The Blues Away is still his best. Give it a listen and if the few short samples don't do it justice, just buy it!

Not a fan
Some day Horace will have to explain the point behind his incessant "shout chorus" style comping. It's got to be annoying as hell for the soloist. He's a great writer and arranger for horns--that's his strongest suit in my view. The style is unmistakable. Also without him the gospel aspect in jazz may not have introduced. What he needs for his soloing and comping is an editor though. He has always had oodles of ideas--but often he sounds like he's a kid trying to play every corny idea that comes to mind. Perhaps for some listeners that's part of his charm.

Decent.
At least based on what I've heard of jazz-which is a lot-I don't consider this album to be an essential recording. It is good and at times, very good. Some of these tunes will be immediately recognized by some. The rest are good as well. This album is my first experience with Horace Silver as leader, so perhaps as time goes on and I get a better feel for his music thru other albums I will appreciate this one even more. Good, but not essential.

Guaranteed to cheer you up
Song for My Father usually gets the nod as Horace Silver's best album in the post-Jazz Messenger days, but for my money there's simply no competition. Blowin' the Blues Away lines up song after song of punchy, upbeat hard bop, with melodies that will stay stuck in your head for days on end and grooves that run three feet into the floor. The feisty front line of Junior Cook and Blue Mitchell are at their most inspired, and every tune is chock-full of Horace's funky, soulful piano playing. Just give "Sister Sadie" a spin and you'll know what I mean.