In Six Pieces of Horace, French-born, New York-based guitarist Guillaume Muller delivers a heartfelt and skillfully crafted solo guitar tribute to jazz icon Horace Silver. What began in 2021 as a deep dive into Silver’s discography during the pandemic evolved into a focused and intimate project that showcases Muller’s profound respect for the hard bop legend’s work.
Initially, the project wasn’t intended to be a solo guitar record. Muller had set out to study Silver’s discography from the 1950s and ’60s, meticulously transcribing each instrument from his favorite recordings to absorb Silver’s musical language. This rigorous study led to a curated selection of 20 to 30 standout tunes, which Muller began reimagining for solo guitar. Ultimately, he selected six pieces that best captured the essence of Silver’s legacy and Muller’s evolving artistic voice.
The resulting album, Six Pieces of Horace, brings together two of Muller’s enduring passions: solo guitar and Horace Silver’s music. Recorded in a New York City studio with a sound engineer, the sessions were approached with a live performance mindset—recorded in one day to preserve spontaneity and emotional honesty. The result is an organic, nuanced interpretation of Silver’s repertoire, filtered through Muller’s lyrical and blues-tinged style.
The album title and artwork nod to Six Pieces of Silver, one of Silver’s most iconic records, signaling Muller’s reverence for the composer while putting forth his own artistic identity.
Guillaume Muller’s thoughtful and expressive playing has earned praise since his 2019 debut Sketches of Sound. Critics have described him as “a fluid, lyrical guitarist” and “an emerging star in NYC.” With Six Pieces of Horace, Muller continues to distinguish himself in the modern jazz scene—honoring tradition while contributing something entirely his own.
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