GA Russell Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 I remember reading many years ago, probably in the late 70s or early 80s, a letter to the editor in Downbeat lamenting the fact that it didn't look like Kenny Dorham would ever be elected to the Readers Poll Hall of Fame. I haven't avoided Dorham over the years; his name just never seemed to come up. I'm pretty sure that the only thing of his I had was a few sideman recordings included in the Charlie Parker Live Savoy box. The last week of April Doug Ramsey in his Rifftides blog wrote at some length, giving the highest praise to the new RVG remaster of Quiet Kenny. Ramsey gave a couple of sentences to the other RVGs as a group, but went on and on about the Dorham album. So I decided to get Quiet Kenny, and I've been listening to it for the past ten days. I wouldn't go overboard about it, but I will say that it is exactly the sort of album I liked best when I was in colege - no frills, unpretentious and low key. I enjoy it a lot. The sidemen are Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor, so that's a good start right there. From the title I expected it to be a ballads album, but it's not. There are a few uptempo numbers, but all the cuts are relaxed. Since I know so little about Dorham, I thought some of you here could suggest other recordings of his that you like. The liner notes say that he played with Art Blakey and Max Roach during the 50s. Anybody else have an opinion or comment about Kenny Dorham? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 A lot of KD fans here. I'm sure a lot of people will make suggestions. For some reason, I think that Quiet Kenny was one of the very earliest CDs I bought. Instant classic for me, but one I haven't listened to in a while. I'm going to put that on, and also suggest Whistle Stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 I'm a big fan of Quiet Kenny, and I love the RVG, a great reissue. KD was quite a guy and player. I think his work is pretty uniformly topnotch. I like the Riversides and the Blue Notes a lot. I'd get the two cd Cafe Bohemia, it's a good place to start. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 And I really like KD trumpeting with Bird on Verve and live . . .he was really "on" with Parker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 (edited) Been a big fan of "Kinny" since the 1960s. My longtime favs are 'Inta Somethin' w/Jackie McLean 'Jazz Contrasts' w/Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach and a harpist on a few tracks. (wonderful Rollins) All his work on Blue Note as leader and sideman is worth having. Edited June 10, 2006 by flat5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Some cool KD on this one: (two covers, same material) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Anybody else have an opinion or comment about Kenny Dorham? Plenty of KD fans here! Among several earlier threads: The great Kenny Dorham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 1960 Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 I really enjoy the Whistle Stop album. There's some real fine playing by Kenny on this one. FWIW, a 5 star rating in All Music Guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Kat Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Kenny Dorham had tremendous chops. I'll be the third person to recommend Whistle Stop. Mark Elf does a nice version of Philly Twist which opens up the Dorham album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 In 1966/7 Lester Bowie kept hammering me with "KD is a MF" messages. Though I had a number of records with Dorham as a sideman it had not "sunk in" until then. Another reason for me to thank Lester Bowie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 KD on Our Thing.... Not that's personal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Hawkins Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 YEah - Escapade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Don't know if it's available at present, but a prime KD album from about the same period as "Quiet Kenny" (maybe a year later) is his first (of two, the other of tunes from "Showboat") on the Time label, "Jazz Contemporary," with Charles Davis, Steve Kuhn, Butch Warren or Jimmy Garrison on bass, and drummer Buddy Enlow. A nice recording too, Earle Brown at the controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Don't know if it's available at present, but a prime KD album from about the same period as "Quiet Kenny" (maybe a year later) is his first (of two, the other of tunes from "Showboat") on the Time label, "Jazz Contemporary," with Charles Davis, Steve Kuhn, Butch Warren or Jimmy Garrison on bass, and drummer Buddy Enlow. A nice recording too, Earle Brown at the controls. Love that record (Jazz Contemporary)!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milestones20 Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Being a KD fanatic, I have a bunch of favorites (won't mention the ones that have already been named): Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (under Horace's leadership) At the Cafe Bohemia Vol. 1 and 2 (under Art Blakey's leadership) Afro-Cuban (under Kenny's leadership) In 'n Out (under Joe Henderson's leadership) Point of Departure (under Andrew Hill's leadership) Trompeta Tocatta (under Kenny's leadership) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Among many essential - but too often overlooked - albums for fans of Kenny Dorham: recorded at the Club Saint-Germain in Paris recorded at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Kenny Dorham was great, no doubt about it. As usual, the albums I would recommend have been mentioned over and over already, but I'll put in another vote for Whistle Stop and Round About Midnight At the Cafe Bohemia, both essential Dorham albums. Then there's his work with Joe Henderson... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjazzman Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 My favorite KD sessions are Una Mas, Afro-Cuban, Trompeta Toccata and Osmosis because the obscure under recorded tenor Frank Haynes is on the set.................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dig dis Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Another recommendation for Whistle Stop, one of my all-time favorites. I think KD sounds great on the Max Roach 4 plays Charlie Parker album too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkertown Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 "Dorham's Epitaph." Whoa...now that's just beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjk Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 (edited) "Dorham's Epitaph." Whoa...now that's just beautiful. It only took this track and Trompeta to make me wild about the guy. (edit for sloppy spelling ) Edited March 10, 2007 by jmjk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrdlu Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 I was slow to warm to Kenny, because at first all I had was the airshots he did with Bird, and they are great, but the sound is not excellent, and Bird overshadows everyone else. (And I was a lot younger then, and less appreciative.) But the Blue Notes are awesome - all listed above - and so are the other albums they list. You have some great listening ahead of you! He and Joe Henderson make a fantastic blend! Jazz at its finest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 Another plug for KD on the Messengers at the Bohemia discs. Classic, and the rest of the band is dandy. About time for an RVG of Afro-Cuban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 Kenny Dorham is one of my very favorite trumpet players. He adds something special to almost every recording on which he plays. As a few others have mentioned, his Cafe Bohemia dates with Blakey are great. Here are some of the many other sessions on which he plays (not yet mentioned) that I like a lot. Sonny Rollins - Movin' Out Tadd Dameron - Fontainbleau Presenting Ernie henry Herb Geller - Fire In The West Kenny Dorham - Blue Spring Milt Jackson - Invitation Kenny Dorham Memorial Album - Jaro/Xanadu/Fresh Sound Clifford Jordan Starting Time Barry Harris - Bulls-Eye Cedar Walton - Trio/Quartet/Quintet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjk Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 About time for an RVG of Afro-Cuban. Yes! Was just diggin' "KD's Cab Ride" yesterday, as it came up thru the shuffle on my iPod. His tone is just gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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