Description
Sahib Shihab – Jazz Sahib – Vinyl Record
Sahib Shihab – Jazz Sahib, released in 1957, is a vibrant and historically significant album that showcases the early brilliance of Sahib Shihab, one of the first African-American jazz musicians to convert to Islam and a key figure in the post-bop and hard bop scenes. Though he would later gain fame for his groundbreaking work in Europe with the Clarke-Boland Big Band and others, Jazz Sahib captures him at a pivotal moment in New York’s thriving 1950s jazz scene, surrounded by some of the finest musicians of the era.
The album is notable not just for Shihab’s compelling work on alto saxophone and baritone sax, but for its all-star lineup: Hank Jones (piano), Phil Woods (alto sax), Bill Evans (piano on select tracks), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Roy Haynes (drums), and Herbie Mann (flute). That combination alone makes it a must-hear for fans of 1950s jazz. These players bring a deep, swinging cohesiveness to the recording, blending cool jazz sophistication with hard bop drive.
Jazz Sahib is a well-crafted mix of original compositions and standards, showcasing both Shihab’s compositional flair and the improvisational chemistry among the musicians. The title track, “Jazz Sahib,” kicks off with an infectious, boppish energy and introduces Shihab’s muscular yet lyrical baritone sax tone, which would become one of his trademarks. His playing balances the rhythmic punch of hard bop with the melodic sensibilities of the earlier swing era.
Other standout tracks include:
“S.M.T.W.T.F.S.S. Blues” – a driving blues number with punchy ensemble passages and plenty of space for expressive solos.
“The Things We Did Last Summer” – a beautifully rendered ballad that highlights the more introspective side of the group, with tasteful playing by Bill Evans and Shihab’s emotional phrasing.
“Le Sneaky” – a quirky, rhythmically playful track that leans into modernist harmonies and clever interaction among the horns.
The album has a bright, crisp sound that feels intimate yet energized, capturing the conversational interplay among top-tier jazz artists. While Shihab was not yet the transatlantic jazz legend he would become in the 1960s, this album reveals a musician already deeply in control of his craft—thoughtful, adventurous, and swinging.
Jazz Sahib is also historically important as one of the few early recordings under Shihab’s own name during his U.S. period. Not long after this, he would move to Europe, where he found a more accepting artistic environment and greater creative freedom. There, he would explore modal jazz, third stream, and even early jazz-funk—but this album shows the roots of that evolution, grounded in the bebop and hard bop traditions of his American peers.
Jazz Sahib is a hidden gem, an essential listen for anyone interested in post-war jazz, not only because of Shihab’s standout performance but because it captures a snapshot of a scene in full bloom, full of legends in the making. It’s both a launching point for Shihab’s international career and a rewarding album in its own right, overflowing with style, intellect, and swing.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
S.M.T.W.T.F.S.S. Blues
Jamila
The Moors
Blu-A-Round
Le’ Sneak
Ballad To The East
