Buffalo – Kenny Dorham

A blues riff with a unique rhythmic feel: sixteenth notes on the downbeat alternated with dotted eighth notes. This is the reverse of a heavy swing feel, but it’s just as satisfying especially with a driving shuffle groove in the rhythm section as recorded. The melody is quite simple in a pentatonic scale throughout. On the head the bass plays 2-feel, going to walking for the solos.

There is a four-measure intro, set up by the piano with a variation of the melody riff followed by a bass fill. The piano intro is shown in our Condensed Score and as a cue in the C treble clef lead sheet. The recording fades out on the repeat of the out head; this song could also end on the last melody phrase, either short or long.

About the arrangement: The two-horn arrangement is subtly detailed in that classic Kenny Dorham style. Though the horns are mostly voiced in fourths, in some places they shift in and out of unison and contrary motion. The tenor sax 2nd part goes quite high; our trombone 2nd part has the first measure down an octave indicated “optional 8va”.