HORACE SILVER—Silver ’N Strings Play The Music Of The Spheres (Blue Note):: Following 27 years of faithful service pianist Silver, the last of Blue Note’s famous repertory company, has delivered his final album (no, he didn’t die—the label did, tho it continues to release juicy re-issues). Much of it is typical Silver, stylish funk bop piano, hummable quintet tunes (with an unobtrusive overlay of strings) tho it does get a bit eccentric when show-biz type gospel Singers start belting out philosophical songs that would make Norman Vincent Peale blush. Still, fans should be delighted (or at least interested) and it’s the end of an epoch which should count for something. R.C.W.

THE PROOF—It’s Safe (Nemperor)::Now I can see why the Knack’s 2nd set hasn’t made that much of a splash. All across America, anonymous jouneyman rockers who sat out the mushrock 70’s in the stix are suddenly coming forth with these pink & green power pop debut LPs, as summer 1980 correct as your slimmest cravat. The Proof are from Mattawan, N.J. (who ain’t?), and their ellpee compares favorably to the Cretones, if not Walter Egan and Tommy Tutone as well. Other words, The Proof are hardly Ramonesish world-beaters,,but I’d go around the corner to hear ’em in a club (and/or on your radio) any night of the week. ,, R.R.