Mark Stryker Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 May have posted this before, but this, for me, is KD's greatest single recorded solo. Captures everything that was unique about this beautiful musician -- expressive sound; snakey melodic lines and remarkable flow; colorful harmony; marvelous pacing, alert wit and lively sense of drama. I do wish the piano didn't suck, however. Quote
mikeweil Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Still one of my favourite trumpet players ... I have to admit the two albums with MacLean are the only ones I didn't really like, but for McLean, not for Dorham ... Quote
ValerieB Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 May have posted this before, but this, for me, is KD's greatest single recorded solo. Captures everything that was unique about this beautiful musician -- expressive sound; snakey melodic lines and remarkable flow; colorful harmony; marvelous pacing, alert wit and lively sense of drama. I do wish the piano didn't suck, however. not the pianist but the piano, right?!? just double-checking!! LOL thanks for posting this treasure, Mark. Quote
Mark Stryker Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Valerie: Yes, the instrument, of course! -- Bish comps beautifully on that track. Mike: Respect your opinion but must disagree, though I admit Jackie's pitch gets pretty wild on "Inta Something." But the Blue Note Quintet with Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins is one of my favorites, though it didn't start out that way. This was my first Jackie McLean record in high school (got it as part of the two LP set "Hipnosis") and it took me a while to warm to the sound/intonation and concept. But once I got it I fell really hard and Jackie became, and has remained, my favotie alto player and one of my greatest heroes. I grew to love this particular record so much I transcribed most of the tunes and played them with my group in college. Coda: Always tried to play the melody of "It Could Happen to You" like KD does here -- lots of slick little winks, ornaments and asides ... Edited December 6, 2011 by Mark Stryker Quote
flat5 Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Mark, I agree the album is great. I bought it in the early 1960s. Although on alto sax I also enjoyed playing It Could...as KD does on this record. Bish works with the piano and it does not bother me :-) I prefer this version of "US" over later versions of Uno Mas. I transcribed the arr. and have played it a few times over the years when possible. I would like to have a good big band arr. of it for my hobby club big band. Jackie is a little different on this record (drunk?) and I like it. Quote
Peter Friedman Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Kenny has been one of my favorite trumpet players for decades. I agree with Mark that his sessions with Jackie McLean are marvelous for the playing of both horns. One of my very favorite examples of Dorham's playing can be found on the Barry Harris Sextet album titled Bulls-Eye on Prestige. Quote
mikeweil Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Mike: Respect your opinion but must disagree, though I admit Jackie's pitch gets pretty wild on "Inta Something." Yes, it's mostly McLean's intonation that puts me off - whenever his pitch is okay I can enjoy his playing. I think this and the piano was what made me sell that CD. Quote
Dan Gould Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Its great when you aren't buying hardly anything and start to have time to revisit the old favorites more ... tonight I am swapping out the car CD case and now I am in the mood for some KD ... and some Jackie Mac! Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Its great when you aren't buying hardly anything and start to have time to revisit the old favorites more ... tonight I am swapping out the car CD case and now I am in the mood for some KD ... and some Jackie Mac! I have to start doing this Dan. I have just too much music. Almost 40 years. Kenny was underrate. Quote
JSngry Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 If I'm keeping only one (and I'm not!), it's Joe's Our Thing. KD at his most openly expansively suppley knowing, both the playing and the composing. Some people will talk about the tone was gone by then and all this and all that, and maybe so if you want to get all puristy/trumpety about it, but the voice was stronger than ever. And that voice was speaking, telling stories like none other. Plus, if there's a meatier tune than "Escapade"....well, ok, there's not a meatier tune than "Escapade". You can only be as meaty a tune as "Escapade". Sing along at home, kids, it's fun! Quote
Larry Kart Posted December 7, 2011 Report Posted December 7, 2011 A favorite track from a favorite album: Quote
ValerieB Posted December 7, 2011 Report Posted December 7, 2011 thanks, Larry. that was a treat! Quote
Clunky Posted December 7, 2011 Report Posted December 7, 2011 I've long appreciated Kenny, Our Thing was my first exposure to Kenny, Hill and Henderson !!!! I love it and its's right up there with my favourite BN sessions. I find it hard to pick out my favourite KD sessions as I've never heard weaknesses that I know other people hear. Quote
brownie Posted December 29, 2012 Report Posted December 29, 2012 Kenny Dorham during a January 1959 appearance at the Five Spot. Peck Morrison is the bass player. Photo by Barry Schaffer! Image included on Schaffer's webpage http://jazzopinions.com/Photos.htm Quote
bichos Posted December 29, 2012 Report Posted December 29, 2012 Kenny Dorham during a January 1959 appearance at the Five Spot. Peck Morrison is the bass player. Photo by Barry Schaffer! Image included on Schaffer's webpage http://jazzopinions.com/Photos.htm great link, thanks, brownie! keep boppin´ marcel Quote
Milestones Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 Kenny Dorham deserves to be much better known. What can you say about a guy who played with Bird, Monk, Blakey, Silver, Coltrane, Rollins, Joe Henderson, Max Roach, Andrew Hill, and more. He was no slouch as a leader, either. I particularly like Quiet Kenny and Jazz Contrasts. Can't say I ever heard him with Jackie McLean, and I'm a big McLean fan. Quote
Larry Kart Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 I vaguely recall a Max Roach Blindfold Test where he responded to a track from the Dorham-Ernie Henry album on Riverside with "Kenny can play some stuff that's really abstract." Quote
Michael Weiss Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 Kenny Dorham during a January 1959 appearance at the Five Spot. Peck Morrison is the bass player. Photo by Barry Schaffer! Image included on Schaffer's webpage http://jazzopinions.com/Photos.htm great link, thanks, brownie! keep boppin´ marcel Looks like a young Jimmy Wormworth on drums. Quote
Mark Stryker Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 I vaguely recall a Max Roach Blindfold Test where he responded to a track from the Dorham-Ernie Henry album on Riverside with "Kenny can play some stuff that's really abstract." Speaking of abstract trumpet players, in the first magazine story about Thad Jones in Down Beat in November 1955, Thad mentions KD in the list of trumpeters he admires. The quote is kinda funny: "Kenny has changed his style. He used to often just play technique, He plays some weird things." Quote
david weiss Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) KD on Avenue A near 7th Street Edited December 30, 2012 by david weiss Quote
david weiss Posted December 30, 2012 Report Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) Some more..... Personnel anyone? Edited December 30, 2012 by david weiss Quote
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