Kenny Dorham - Afro-Cuban

McKinley Howard Dorham is a trumpet player who was taken for granted. 

For several years, mainly the halcyon years of the bop movement, Kenny was Mr. Available for every trumpet chair in every band and combo. If Dizzy wasn't around and Howard McGhee was out of town, there was always Kenny. And so it went from about 1945 to '51, always in the shadow of those who had been first to establish themselves in the vanguard of the new jazz. 

Slowly, in the past few years, Kenny has emerged from behind this bop bushel to show the individual qualities that were ultimately to mark him for independent honors. Numerous chores as a sideman on record dates for various small companies led to his inclusion in the important Horace Silver Quintet dates for Blue Note, and, as a result of his fine work on these occasions, to the signing of an exclusive Blue Note contract and his first date for this label as a combo leader on his own. 

For this session with its Afro-Cuban rhythmic motif, Kenny says "I tried to write everything so that the rhythm would be useful throughout and would never get in the way". As a consequence, the Cuban touch sounds as if it is a part of the whole, rather than something that has been superimposed on a jazz scene, as is sometimes the case.

Kenny Dorham's Blue Note debut as a leader marks an important phase in his career. After hearing these sides, the fans who for so long had been only vaguely aware of his real capabilities will learn that here is a soloist and a composer whose sound and pen are destined from now on to play a lively and stimulating role on the jazz stage. *Leonard Feather*

There are good names here, and an often exciting brand of jazz over a mostly Cuban rhythm. Dorham is a fine modern trumpeter and then there are J. J. Johnson, trombone; Hank Mobley, tenor; Horace Silver, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Art Blakey, drums, etc., all of whom have plenty to say. If pushed, this could sell nicely to modern. *Billboard, November 5, 1955*

Considered Kenny Dorham's finest recording of his all-too-short career, this re-reissue has been newly remastered and presumably now includes all of the takes from these nonet and sextet sessions of 1955. Considering the time period, this date remains way ahead of the Latin-tinged and hard bop music that would follow. It would be difficult to assess the sextet being a step below the larger group effort, but only because it is much less Afro-Cuban. Nonetheless the unmistakable drumming of Art Blakey powers the combo through the blisteringly swinging "La Villa" with unison horns (Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Cecil Payne, baritone sax). The other easy swinging pieces "K.D.'s Motion", "Venita's Dance", and "Echo of Spring/K.D.'s Car Ride" display great group empathy and seem effortless, though they're not. It's the Latin-based music that really differentiates this band from all others of this era, save Dizzy Gillespie's. Payne's robust bari ignites the hip call-and-response motif of "Afrodisia", while his horn in tandem with pianist Horace Silver backs the up-front horns, supplemented by trombonist J.J. Johnson, for the heated mambo-ish hard bopper "Basheer's Dream". Two takes of "Minor's Holiday" are, curiously enough, exactly the same time at 4:24, both super cooking with Dorham's clear-as-a-bell trumpet leading the other horns, which practically act as backup singers. Percussionist Carlos "Patato" Valdes is the perfect spice added to this dish. The lone ballad, "Lotus Flower", is remarkable in that its marked tender restraint feels on the brink of wanting to cut loose, but never does. A first-rate recording for the under-appreciated Dorham, this one should be in every collection of all true music lovers. *Michael G. Nastos*

Title is only half true, for one side of this collection spots straight jazz blowing with a quintet running thru fleet, if boppish. Dorham originals. Trumpeter Dorham is in fine form thruout; more colorful within Afro-Cuban rhythmic frame. These tracks spot Blakey, J. J. Johnson, Mobley, etc. Latter have been released before; quintet sides are new. Worth price for solo and rhythmic. Should be able to find buyers among both Latin and jazz clientele. *Billboard, May 20, Mayo 1957*

1 - Afrodisia

(Kenny Dorham)

2 - Lotus Flower

(Kenny Dorham)

3 - Minor's Holiday

(Kenny Dorham)

4 - Basheer's Dream

(Gigi Gryce)

5 - K.D.'s Motion

(Kenny Dorham)

6 - La Villa

(Kenny Dorham)

7 - Venita's Dance

(Kenny Dorham)

8 - Echo Of Spring (aka K.D.'s Cab Ride)

(Kenny Dorham)

9 - Minor's Holiday (alternate take)

(Kenny Dorham)

Kenny Dorham (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone [#1 to #4, #9]); Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Cecil Payne (baritone sax); Horace Silver (piano); Oscar Pettiford [#1 to #4, #9], Percy Heath [#5 to #8] (basses); Art Blakey (drums); Carlos "Patato" Valdes (congas [#1 to #4, #9]); Richie Goldberg (cowbell [#1 to #4, #9]).

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, January 30 (#5 to #8) and March 29, 1955 (#1 to #4, #9).