The legendary composer and pianist Horace Silver was at the top of his game in the 1950s and 60s. After Silver and drummer Art Blakey helped forge the sound of hard bop with their mid-’50s group, the Jazz Messengers, the pianist went on to make a number of solo albums for the Blue Note label. On this live recording, Silver leads an excellent group: the little-known trumpeter Louis Smith, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Louis Hayes. “Senor Blues,” from 1956’s Six Pieces of Silver, was a hit when it came out, and the catchy tune receives a spirited reading that is a nice mix of raucousness and restraint. The album opens with an energetic, expansive version of “Tippin’,” a song that was originally recorded as a B-side. The next track, “The Outlaw,” has a more complex structure, and the band handles the changes with great aplomb. (Silver is one of those artists who never makes anything sound complicated; he’s too busy making the music swing.) “Cool Eyes”— Silver introduces it as the band’s theme song — wraps up the album. One of the pleasures of Live at Newport ’58 is the consistently high level of artistry on display during the solos: a series of outings that are both highly focused and fun.