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Kenny Dorham was a jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, born in Texas in 1924, who was always highly regarded and widely respected, without breaking into the upper echelons of the genre alongside high profile giants like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Jazz writer Garry Giddins said that “Dorham's name has become ‘virtually synonymous with 'underrated’’”. 

Beginning his recording career in 1945 as the bebop revolution took hold, he recorded as a sideman with a host of major names, most notably Charlie Parker, until recording his first session leading his own band in 1953, for the Debut label. 

This 2-CD collection comprises the complete original contents of four of his early albums as leader – “The Kenny Dorham Quintet” on Debut, “Afro-Cuban” and “'Round About Midnight – ‘Live’ At The Cafe Bohemia” on Blue Note and “Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets” on ABC-Paramount. 

He recorded with various quintet and sextet line-ups (expanded with percussion on “Afro-Cuba”), which feature significant jazz names of the day, including Jimmy Heath, Walter Bishop, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, J.J. Johnson, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Oscar Pettiford, Bobby Timmons, Arthur Edgehill and more. Featuring a mixture of original compositions and standards, it showcases his qualities as both trumpeter and leader.

Tracks

CD 1
1. AN OSCAR FOR OSCAR The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
2. RUBY, MY DEAR  The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
3. BE MY LOVE The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
4. OSMOSIS  The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
5. I LOVE YOU The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
6. DARN THAT DREAM  The Kenny Dorham Quintet 
From the album “The Kenny Dorham Quintet” (Debut DLP-9)   1954
Rec. New York, December 15, 1953
Kenny Dorham Quintet : Kenny Dorham (tp) Jimmy Heath (ts,bar) Walter Bishop, Jr. (p) Percy Heath (b) Kenny Clarke (d)
7. AFRODISIA Kenny Dorham 
8. LOTUS FLOWER Kenny Dorham 
9. MINOR'S HOLIDAY Kenny Dorham 
10. BASHEER'S DREAM Kenny Dorham 
Hackensack, N.J., March 29, 1955    
Kenny Dorham (tp) J.J. Johnson (tb) Hank Mobley (ts) Cecil Payne (bar) Horace Silver (p) Oscar Pettiford (b) Art Blakey (d) Carlos "Patato" Valdes (cga) Richie Goldberg (cowbell)
11. K.D.'S MOTION Kenny Dorham 
12. THE VILLA Kenny Dorham 
13. VENITA'S DANCE Kenny Dorham 
Hackensack, N.J., January 30, 1955    
Afro/Cuban : Kenny Dorham Sextet : Kenny Dorham (tp) Hank Mobley (ts) Cecil Payne (bar) Horace Silver (p) Percy Heath (b) Art Blakey (d)
From the album “Afro-Cuban”    (Blue Note BLP1535)   1955
14. BLUES ELEGANTE Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets 
15. DX Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets
New York, April 4, 1956    
Kenny Dorham's Jazz Prophets Vol 1 : Kenny Dorham (tp) J.R. Monterose (ts) Dick Katz (p) Sam Jones (b) Arthur Edgehill (d)
Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets   (ABC-Paramount ABC-122)  1955

CD 2
1. THE PROPHET Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets 
2. DON'T EXPLAIN Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets 
3. TAHITIAN SUITE Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets 
New York, April 4, 1956    
Kenny Dorham's Jazz Prophets Vol 1 : Kenny Dorham (tp) J.R. Monterose (ts) Dick Katz (p) Sam Jones (b) Arthur Edgehill (d)
Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets   (ABC-Paramount ABC-122)  1955
4. MONACO Kenny Dorham 
5. ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT Kenny Dorham 
6. MEXICO CITY Kenny Dorham 
7. A NIGHT IN TUNISIA Kenny Dorham 
8. AUTUMN IN NEW YORK Kenny Dorham 
9. HILL'S EDGE Kenny Dorham
Live "Cafe Bohemia", New York, May 31, 1956    
 Kenny Dorham (tp) J.R. Monterose (ts) Bobby Timmons (p) Sam Jones (b) Arthur Edgehill (d)
'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia    Blue Note BLP1524