Minor's Holiday – Kenny Dorham
Originally introduced by the Jazz Messengers, this minor-key uptempo swinger has a subtle, intricate arrangement. Our "K. D. Challenge" version has several tracks at different tempos.
- Recording: The Jazz Messengers - At The Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1
- Recorded on: November 23, 1955
- Label: Blue Note (BLP 1507)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (uptempo)
- Trumpet - Kenny Dorham
- Tenor Sax - Hank Mobley
- Piano - Horace Silver
- Bass - Doug Watkins
- Drums - Art Blakey
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Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
This uptempo swinger may at first seem simple, but as with many other Dorham compositions there are subtle elements that are not immediately obvious but are essential to the song. The melody of this song is notably rhythmic; on the A and C sections, the rhythm section plays hits that line up with the melody throughout. These figures reinforce the melodic rhythm, creating only one layer of activity instead of the two layers of melody and rhythm section "time, "as heard in the bridge. There is a stop-time interlude leading into the solos, seven measures long instead of the expected eight. Another interlude, indicated as G2 on the lead sheet, replaces the last eight measures of a soloist's last chorus to lead to the next solo. The coda is also eight measures long and begins after four measures of the out melody's C section. These interludes and coda are not thematically related to the head or to each other, and each contains a different set of rhythm section figures.
This Jazz Messengers recording begins with an open drum solo; this song has no written intro. The G1 interlude is used at the end of the tenor sax and piano solos, but not the trumpet solo before them. After its appearance on the piano solo, there is a chorus of trumpet and drums trading 4s followed by an open solo section that is not on the form. This section is a dialogue between trumpet and drums, without piano or bass. This leads to an open drum solo, which sets up the "out" head from the bridge with the coda.
Minus You audio tracks are available under "The K.D. Challenge" album covers.
This Jazz Messengers recording begins with an open drum solo; this song has no written intro. The G1 interlude is used at the end of the tenor sax and piano solos, but not the trumpet solo before them. After its appearance on the piano solo, there is a chorus of trumpet and drums trading 4s followed by an open solo section that is not on the form. This section is a dialogue between trumpet and drums, without piano or bass. This leads to an open drum solo, which sets up the "out" head from the bridge with the coda.
Minus You audio tracks are available under "The K.D. Challenge" album covers.
"At The Cafe Bohemia Vol.1" was recorded remotely by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder at The Cafe Bohemia in New York City.
This is the second recording of Minor's Holiday. The first came from March of the same year, at the second session for Kenny's album "Afro Cuban", also featuring Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey. The lineup of the Jazz Messengers heard on this November 1955 recording is the same as on Horace Silver's quintet album recorded in November 1954 and February '55. The Cafe Bohemia album is the last recording with both Dorham and Blakey; the next Jazz Messengers album, recorded in April and May '56, had Donald Byrd instead of Dorham.
This is the second recording of Minor's Holiday. The first came from March of the same year, at the second session for Kenny's album "Afro Cuban", also featuring Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey. The lineup of the Jazz Messengers heard on this November 1955 recording is the same as on Horace Silver's quintet album recorded in November 1954 and February '55. The Cafe Bohemia album is the last recording with both Dorham and Blakey; the next Jazz Messengers album, recorded in April and May '56, had Donald Byrd instead of Dorham.
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- Recording: Don Sickler - The K.D. Challenge
- Recorded on: October 6, 2001
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1033)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (uptempo)
- Trumpet - Don Sickler
- Alto Sax - Bobby Porcelli
- Piano - Cecilia Coleman
- Bass - Tim Givens
- Drums - Vince Cherico
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Our "K.D. Challenge" versions are closely based on the Messengers recording. We have four versions at different tempos, two are shown here (uptempo and medium up), while the medium and medium slow versions are under the "The K.D. Challenge practice tracks" cover. Most of the versions are quartet takes, with the trumpet playing the melody; the alto sax is only on the uptempo version, soloing but not playing the head. The out heads of the medium up and uptempo takes—the only ones with solo choruses—are complete instead of starting from the bridge as in the Messengers version. In the medium up take, the interlude G2 is followed by eight measures of drums going back to A; the uptempo version has 32 measures of drum solo between the last G2 and the out A.
All four tempos have Minus You tracks for piano, bass, and drums. Minus Melody tracks are available for the medium slow, medium, and medium up versions; horn players can also use the uptempo tracks to lock in with the trumpet melody, playing either the first or second part.
This Minus You edition features lead sheets for all instruments as well as Minus You audio tracks. For the quintet as recorded by the Jazz Messengers, click on the album cover to the left. You'll find second parts there.
All four tempos have Minus You tracks for piano, bass, and drums. Minus Melody tracks are available for the medium slow, medium, and medium up versions; horn players can also use the uptempo tracks to lock in with the trumpet melody, playing either the first or second part.
This Minus You edition features lead sheets for all instruments as well as Minus You audio tracks. For the quintet as recorded by the Jazz Messengers, click on the album cover to the left. You'll find second parts there.
"The K.D. Challenge" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Minor's Holiday is a Kenny Dorham classic that was recorded by legendary drummer Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers. The song has an AABA form and a swing feel. The melody has lots of fun hits that the drummer can play and set up. This particular Minus You recording is our up-tempo version, closest to the Art Blakey version. Check out the medium and medium slow practice versions to become more comfortable with the piece, or just to try out a great tune with a new feeling. You'll be surprised how different (and sometimes strange) it feels to play at a slower tempo, especially when you're used to hearing and playing the song as recorded. Minor's Holiday is a very versatile piece in that it sounds good and grooves at a slow, medium or fast tempo, as our many Minus You versions demonstrate.
Click here to learn more about"The K.D. Challenge" recordings and be sure to check out the rest!
Click here to learn more about"The K.D. Challenge" recordings and be sure to check out the rest!
Exclusive Minus You audio tracks
Minus You tracks are available at four different tempos. The uptempo take has no Minus Melody track, but melody instrumentalists can use it to lock in with the trumpet melody, playing either the first or second part. Melody instruments should get the lead sheet for their instrument, rhythm section players have individual parts; second parts are available under the Jazz Messengers album cover.
MP3 UPTEMPO VERSION
-- intro—8 measures of drums
-- melody
-- alto sax solo 2 choruses
-- trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- drum solo 1 chorus
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax and trumpet solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 1 chorus
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/walk for the melody
-- walk for the alto sax, trumpet, and piano solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 1 chorus
-- play figures/walk for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Drums—sticks throughout; finger snaps have been added on beat 1 of each measure for all drum solo sections
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo for the intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax, trumpet, and piano solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 1 chorus (take the break at the end of G2)
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
- - - - - -
clip MEDIUM UP VERSION
-- intro—8 measures of drums
-- melody
-- trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- 8 measures of drum solo
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus melody
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/walk for the melody
-- walk for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play figures/walk for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Drums—in these drum solo sections, finger snaps have been added on beats 2 and 4.
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo for the intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 8 measures (take the break at the end of G2)
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
- - - - - -
The medium and medium slow versions are for working the melody and associated rhythmic figures up to tempo; they contain no solos. Click on the album cover to the right for details and available tracks.
Minus You tracks are available at four different tempos. The uptempo take has no Minus Melody track, but melody instrumentalists can use it to lock in with the trumpet melody, playing either the first or second part. Melody instruments should get the lead sheet for their instrument, rhythm section players have individual parts; second parts are available under the Jazz Messengers album cover.
MP3 UPTEMPO VERSION
-- intro—8 measures of drums
-- melody
-- alto sax solo 2 choruses
-- trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- drum solo 1 chorus
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax and trumpet solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 1 chorus
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/walk for the melody
-- walk for the alto sax, trumpet, and piano solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 1 chorus
-- play figures/walk for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Drums—sticks throughout; finger snaps have been added on beat 1 of each measure for all drum solo sections
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo for the intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the alto sax, trumpet, and piano solos 2 choruses each (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 1 chorus (take the break at the end of G2)
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
- - - - - -
clip MEDIUM UP VERSION
-- intro—8 measures of drums
-- melody
-- trumpet solo 2 choruses
-- 8 measures of drum solo
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus melody
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play the melody
-- solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- tacet for the drum intro
-- play figures/walk for the melody
-- walk for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- tacet for the drum solo 8 measures
-- play figures/walk for the out melody and coda
MP3 minus Drums—in these drum solo sections, finger snaps have been added on beats 2 and 4.
-- count off sets up the intro
-- solo for the intro
-- play figures/comp for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 2 choruses (2nd chorus play G2)
-- solo 8 measures (take the break at the end of G2)
-- play figures/comp for the out melody and coda
- - - - - -
The medium and medium slow versions are for working the melody and associated rhythmic figures up to tempo; they contain no solos. Click on the album cover to the right for details and available tracks.
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Email Send Minor's Holiday to a friend
Send this page to a friend via email. Add your name or email in the first field. In the second, add one or more email addresses, separated by a comma.
- Recording: Don Sickler - The K.D. Challenge - practice tracks
- Recorded on: October 6, 2001
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1033-A)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Don Sickler
- Piano - Cecilia Coleman
- Bass - Tim Givens
- Drums - Vince Cherico
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Our medium and medium slow Minus You tracks are designed for practicing the melody and associated rhythm section figures. Once you're comfortable with this song at these tempos, try playing with the medium up and uptempo versions (click on the album cover to the left).
The medium slow version consists of one in head, ending in the fifth measure of D (the interlude that would lead to a solo break).
The medium version contains an in head and an out head, with the coda. The in head again goes up to the break, followed by a second count off to set up the out head.
Click on the Minus You tab for more details. For the uptempo and medium up tracks, click on the second album cover above left.
The medium slow version consists of one in head, ending in the fifth measure of D (the interlude that would lead to a solo break).
The medium version contains an in head and an out head, with the coda. The in head again goes up to the break, followed by a second count off to set up the out head.
Click on the Minus You tab for more details. For the uptempo and medium up tracks, click on the second album cover above left.
"The K.D. Challenge - Practice Tracks" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Exclusive Minus You practice tracks
The medium and medium slow versions are for working the melody and associated rhythmic figures up to tempo; they contain no solos. Melody instruments should get the lead sheet for their instrument, rhythm section players have individual parts; second parts are available under the Jazz Messengers album cover
clip MEDIUM VERSION
-- melody
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/walk for the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody twice and coda
- - - - - -
clip MEDIUM SLOW VERSION
-- melody—ends on the second to last measure of D
MP3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody through D
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody through D
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/walk for the melody through D
MP3 minus Drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody through D
The medium and medium slow versions are for working the melody and associated rhythmic figures up to tempo; they contain no solos. Melody instruments should get the lead sheet for their instrument, rhythm section players have individual parts; second parts are available under the Jazz Messengers album cover
clip MEDIUM VERSION
-- melody
-- out melody
-- coda
MP3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/walk for the melody twice and coda
MP3 minus Drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody twice and coda
- - - - - -
clip MEDIUM SLOW VERSION
-- melody—ends on the second to last measure of D
MP3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody through D
MP3 minus Piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody through D
MP3 minus Bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/walk for the melody through D
MP3 minus Drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures/comp for the melody through D
Related Songs
Email Send Minor's Holiday to a friend
Send this page to a friend via email. Add your name or email in the first field. In the second, add one or more email addresses, separated by a comma.
Kenny Dorham
August 30, 1924 – December 15, 1972
August 30, 2025, is Kenny Dorham's 101st birthday: jazzleadsheets.com has added many new K.D. compositions. Jazz At Lincoln Center has dedicated three late-night sets to Kenny's music, played with love by young musicians who want his music to live on. Join in, play K.D. music! Read more...
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