"No Smokin'" is a hard-charging Horace Silver original that opens The Stylings of Silver, his 1957 album for Blue Note Records. The 40-bar AABA form in B-flat minor rockets along at nearly 300 beats per minute, driven by Silver's characteristically percussive piano attack and Louis Hayes's explosive drumming. Silver takes the first solo with two choruses of his signature funky, blues-drenched piano improvisation, his left hand comping with rhythmic insistence while his right hand delivers angular melodic lines studded with gospel-tinged inflections. Hank Mobley follows with two choruses of smooth, flowing tenor saxophone, his relaxed approach providing an effective contrast to Silver's intensity. Art Farmer contributes two trumpet choruses that blend bebop precision with a warm, lyrical tone, demonstrating the versatility that made him one of the most admired brass players of the era. Hayes closes the solo section with a fiery drum chorus that underscores his importance as one of hard bop's premier young drummers. The quintet features Teddy Kotick on bass, and the ensemble's tight coordination reflects Silver's meticulous approach to rehearsal and arrangement, ensuring that every member of the group served the music's collective energy.
