Junior Cook, a skilled hard bop tenor and often overlooked by his more innovative contemporaries was a strong improviser. Cook was a member of the Horace Silver Quintet from 1958 to 1964. After Blue Mitchell and Cook left the band, Cook joined Mitchell’s quintet (1964-1969). Elvin Jones (1975-1976), George Coleman (1979-1981), Bill Hardman (1979-1981) and the McCoy Tyner large band were some of his later associations. Junior Cook was a sideman and recorded many songs as a leader with Jazzland (1961), Catalyst (77), Muse and SteepleChase. From www.allmusic.com
