Archives: August 2025

  • Kenny Dorham's 101st!

    August 30, 2025, is Kenny Dorham's 101st birthday! During Kenny's centennial year we've added yet more of his compositions, or new editions, to jazzleadsheets.com. Lots of great new music to check out, from the '40s through the '60s! Starred (*) songs indicate titles Kenny never got the chance to record himself. In alphabetical order:
    As I Live And Breathe* (instrumental and vocal) - Kenny wrote the lyric too!
    Blue Bossa - Kenny's second recording
    Blue Friday - his second recording in a new key
    Blue Lament* - Don Sickler's version, Kenny's was unissued by Blue Note
    Blue Spring - check out his bass line
    Blue Interlude* - written for the delight of drummer Art Taylor!
    Buffalo - "southwestern funk," according to Ira Gitler's liner notes
    Butch's Blues - for bassist Butch Warren
    El Matador - possibly Kenny's only 5/4 composition
    The Fox - excitement for everyone in the band
    High Seas* - Kenny wrote this for drummer Art Taylor's Blue Note session
    Hill's Edge - hear how Kenny disguises the form
    Jazz-Classic - a cute classically inspired duet; two horns, bass, drums
    K.D.'s Blues - a "cool" blues
    N.Y. Theme - from Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia
    Newport News* - a Chico Hamilton recording, plus a duet
    No End* - Curtis Fuller & Jimmy Heath brought this gem to Don Sickler, never recorded by Kenny
    Noose Bloos - a snappy riff blues
    Passion Spring - recorded as a septet, passionate lyricism, subtle details
    Poetic Spring - masterful interplay between accompaniment & melody
    Riffin' - riffs again, a blues
    Sky Blue - from a Swedish TV show - you can see Kenny!
    Spring Cannon - Kenny wrote this for Cannonball Adderley, on their only recording together
    Strictly Confidential* co-written with Bud Powell (and a vocal version, This Is Strictly Confidential)
    Sunrise In Mexico - Kenny's reflections of his childhood home
    Sunset - a K.D. modal song
    Trompeta Toccata - dramatic trumpet playing!
    Venita's Dance - quintet and sextet
    Whistle Stop - definitely hear the train leaving the station! Lots of fun.
    A Waltz - from Kenny's Jazz Contemporary album

    In addition we have new transcribed solos! Kenny's solos are now available for Horn Salute and Pedro's Time; Back Road and Escapade now have transcriptions of both Kenny and Joe Henderson, and finally we have Kenny's and Hank Mobley's solos from the original Jazz Messengers recording of N.Y. Theme.

  • New Kenny Dorham arrivals!

    In Kenny Dorham’s centennial year, we're continuing to add more of his compositions for your enjoyment. August 6th is the recording anniversary of Art Taylor’s Blue Note album “A.T.’s Delight”; K.D. didn't play on this album but contributed two songs, of which High Seas is now available. Besides the lead sheet and quintet arrangement, we have an Art Taylor drum transcription as well as piano comping voicings.

    Other new additions by Kenny Dorham, all with their recorded arrangements, perfect for your first fall gig:
    Jazz-Classic from his 1957 album “2 Horns, 2 Rhythm” (2 front line, no piano)
    Blue Spring, Poetic Spring, and Passion Spring from his 1959 album “Blue Spring” (septet - 4 horns and rhythm section)
    Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah recorded in 1960 for the compilation “The Jazz Life” (5 front line, no piano)
    Blue Lament, first recorded by Don Sickler in 1983 on “The Music Of Kenny Dorham” (quintet - 2 horns and rhythm section)

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