Baby Sis – Kenny Dorham
An early Kenny Dorham song which deserves wider recognition. It's in a typical bebop style, but with those intricate lines that define the K.D. sound at this point in his career.
- Recording: Max Roach - Max Roach Quintet Featuring Kenny Dorham
- Recorded on: May 15, 1949
- Label: Esquire (10-084)
- Concert Key: F
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Kenny Dorham
- Tenor Sax - James Moody
- Piano - Al Haig
- Bass - Tommy Potter
- Drums - Max Roach
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Though firmly within the bebop tradition, Baby Sis has plenty of those intricate lines that are a Kenny Dorham hallmark. Many of these lines focus on alterations and upper extensions of the chords, such as sharp 5ths, flat and sharp 9ths. This 32-measure song has an AABC form in the changes, but the melodies of the two A sections are different starting in the fourth measure; C is the same as A2. The bridge, which modulates up to A♭, is open for a soloist. Our lead sheet includes an eight-measure intro which features a piano solo on the recording.
Our lead sheet includes a couple of embellishments Kenny Dorham plays on the recording, notably a turn on beat 3 of the first measure in each A section. He leaves out the turn in the first A of the in head but plays it on the second A and at C, and in all three places on the out head. The melody certainly works without the turn, but it adds an extra level of detail in that iconic K.D. style.
Our lead sheet includes a couple of embellishments Kenny Dorham plays on the recording, notably a turn on beat 3 of the first measure in each A section. He leaves out the turn in the first A of the in head but plays it on the second A and at C, and in all three places on the out head. The melody certainly works without the turn, but it adds an extra level of detail in that iconic K.D. style.
May 15, 1949, was the last date of an international jazz festival in Paris, headlined by Charlie Parker and Sidney Bechet. This Max Roach session features the members of Parker's quintet with the leader replaced by James Moody, who was living in Paris at the time. Earlier that month in New York, Parker made his first quintet recording for the Verve label—the only studio recording featuring this lineup of his quintet.
According to research done by John Melendez and Robert Pallitto, as they were writing a history of Kenny and the Dorham family; Kenny did have a younger sister, Cloteal, who was born in 1931.
According to research done by John Melendez and Robert Pallitto, as they were writing a history of Kenny and the Dorham family; Kenny did have a younger sister, Cloteal, who was born in 1931.
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Kenny Dorham
August 30, 1924 – December 15, 1972
August 30, 2024, is Kenny Dorham's 100th birthday: jazzleadsheets.com has added 10 new K.D. compositions, shown on the home page under New Arrivals. Check them out! Read more...
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