Pedro's Time – Kenny Dorham
A classic Dorham song with a 12-measure form that's not quite a blues. Our "K.D. Challenge" version has Minus You tracks for all instruments plus second parts like saxophonist Joe Henderson played with Kenny on the classic "Our Thing" album.
- Recording: Joe Henderson - Our Thing
- Recorded on: September 9, 1963
- Label: Blue Note (BLP 4152)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Latin/swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Kenny Dorham
- Tenor Sax - Joe Henderson
- Piano - Andrew Hill
- Bass - Eddie Khan
- Drums - Pete La Roca
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Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Pedro's Time is a classic K.D. composition: concise, melodic and more complex than it initially seems. The form first appears to be twelve measures long, blues-like but not truly a blues, but with harmonically changing first and second endings it actually expands to a 24-measure form. The simple, flowing melody could certainly work over blues changes, but the IV chord is delayed until the seventh measure (and is F7 instead of F minor), with A♭7 to G7 on the fifth and sixth measures as well as the expected ninth and tenth measures. The result is more like an eight-measure form plus a four-measure tag. The first and second endings of this 12-measure form have different changes, turnarounds largely a tritone away from each other.
If you get to play Kenny's quintet arrangement with your group, you'll see the second part (originally played by Joe Henderson on tenor sax) adds an unexpected harmonic twist to the melody in the third measure, as well as enriching the the different harmonic movement in the first and second endings and the coda.
It is particularly unusual how much of this harmonic information is retained for the solos. The solo form is really two 12-measure choruses, one each with the first and second ending. The first four measures of the form in both head and solos start with even-8ths rhythm section figures with a Latin feel that breaks to start the fourth measure and transitions to swing within the fourth measure. The swinging parts of the melody have stop-time figures in the rhythm section, which introduce Kenny's magical independent roles of bass and piano (bass on the downbeat of the 4th measure, piano enters on the second beat; both play the syncopation at the end of the measure together.) A smaller melody staff is shown above each rhythm section line and cues for other rhythm section parts help each rhythm section player understand their role in this marvelously rich accompaniment.
Note that the lead sheets available here, under the Joe Henderson album cover, are the same ones available under "The K.D. Challenge" cover above and work for the Minus You tracks. The original second part (Joe Henderson's tenor sax part) is available separately under this album cover, as are transpositions of this part for other instruments.
See more from Joe's "Our Thing" album.
If you get to play Kenny's quintet arrangement with your group, you'll see the second part (originally played by Joe Henderson on tenor sax) adds an unexpected harmonic twist to the melody in the third measure, as well as enriching the the different harmonic movement in the first and second endings and the coda.
It is particularly unusual how much of this harmonic information is retained for the solos. The solo form is really two 12-measure choruses, one each with the first and second ending. The first four measures of the form in both head and solos start with even-8ths rhythm section figures with a Latin feel that breaks to start the fourth measure and transitions to swing within the fourth measure. The swinging parts of the melody have stop-time figures in the rhythm section, which introduce Kenny's magical independent roles of bass and piano (bass on the downbeat of the 4th measure, piano enters on the second beat; both play the syncopation at the end of the measure together.) A smaller melody staff is shown above each rhythm section line and cues for other rhythm section parts help each rhythm section player understand their role in this marvelously rich accompaniment.
Note that the lead sheets available here, under the Joe Henderson album cover, are the same ones available under "The K.D. Challenge" cover above and work for the Minus You tracks. The original second part (Joe Henderson's tenor sax part) is available separately under this album cover, as are transpositions of this part for other instruments.
See more from Joe's "Our Thing" album.
"Our Thing" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
"Our Thing" was Joe Henderson's second album as a leader—recorded just three months after his first, "Page One." These two, as well as Joe's next album, "In 'N Out", feature Kenny as both a player and a composer; all three albums consist entirely of Henderson and Dorham songs.
Besides our "K.D. Challenge" version, available now for the first time on jazzleadsheets.com, we know of no other recordings of this song. It's a tasty song deserving of more recognition.
"Our Thing" was Joe Henderson's second album as a leader—recorded just three months after his first, "Page One." These two, as well as Joe's next album, "In 'N Out", feature Kenny as both a player and a composer; all three albums consist entirely of Henderson and Dorham songs.
Besides our "K.D. Challenge" version, available now for the first time on jazzleadsheets.com, we know of no other recordings of this song. It's a tasty song deserving of more recognition.
Related Songs
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- Recording: Don Sickler - The K.D. Challenge
- Recorded on: October 6, 2001
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1033)
- Concert Key: C minor
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Latin/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 "K.D. Challenge" recording is arranged the same way as the original version, but in a quartet setting. Due to the rhythm section stop-time activity in the head, we consider it important for the pianist, bassist and drummer to know what else is going on around their parts. Accordingly, in all three rhythm section parts we have included the melody on a separate upper staff, as well as any notable figures below the lower staff that one instrument in the rhythm section has but another does not. You therefore get a great view of Kenny's magical rhythm section tapestry while playing your own part.
Note that the lead sheets available here are the same as the ones under the Joe Henderson album cover, save for the second parts which are only available under that album cover. The lead sheets also function as the Minus You parts, when played with the Minus You tracks.
Hear other titles available on our "K.D. Challenge" project. To learn why we think Kenny Dorham's music is so important, click About The K.D. Challenge.
Note that the lead sheets available here are the same as the ones under the Joe Henderson album cover, save for the second parts which are only available under that album cover. The lead sheets also function as the Minus You parts, when played with the Minus You tracks.
Hear other titles available on our "K.D. Challenge" project. To learn why we think Kenny Dorham's music is so important, click About The K.D. Challenge.
"The K.D. Challenge" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
Don Sickler: When we originally recorded this track (in 2001), I was experimenting to see if I could come up with some playalong minus melody tracks, so I (playing trumpet) was in an isolation booth where I wouldn't be recorded on the track.
Upon re-investigating what we did on this original session, combined with my now strong desire to develop individual rhythm section player tracks, I saw these tracks would work well. All I'd have to do is go back into the studio and create melody/solo tracks, and then it would make sense to remove the rhythm section players one at a time. I also set a goal for myself: to try to solo as melodically as possible, therefore giving pianists and drummers room to come up with different ways to fill in the holes and accompany me.
Also, even though I've had the opportunity to record for many years, I still love the challenge of creating a new recording, and I'm hopeful that all of you melody instrumentalist and rhythm section players will have as much fun as I'm having, playing with these tracks of Kenny Dorham's great music.
Don Sickler: When we originally recorded this track (in 2001), I was experimenting to see if I could come up with some playalong minus melody tracks, so I (playing trumpet) was in an isolation booth where I wouldn't be recorded on the track.
Upon re-investigating what we did on this original session, combined with my now strong desire to develop individual rhythm section player tracks, I saw these tracks would work well. All I'd have to do is go back into the studio and create melody/solo tracks, and then it would make sense to remove the rhythm section players one at a time. I also set a goal for myself: to try to solo as melodically as possible, therefore giving pianists and drummers room to come up with different ways to fill in the holes and accompany me.
Also, even though I've had the opportunity to record for many years, I still love the challenge of creating a new recording, and I'm hopeful that all of you melody instrumentalist and rhythm section players will have as much fun as I'm having, playing with these tracks of Kenny Dorham's great music.
Pedro's Time is a fun and involved piece especially for rhythm section players (as many of Dorham's compositions are). The melody switches from Latin to swing and has lots of rhythm section figures to catch or set up. Listen to how drummer Vince Cherico uses 8th notes on the snare drum to set up these figures in the melody and how he transitions back to Latin from swing.
To learn why we think Kenny Dorham's music is so important, click About The K.D. Challenge.
To learn why we think Kenny Dorham's music is so important, click About The K.D. Challenge.
[ex] Here is an excerpt of our full recorded exclusive audio track. Track format:
-- melody
-- trumpet solo 3 choruses (1 chorus = B1 + B2, 24 measures total)
-- out melody
-- coda
Exclusive audio Minus You tracks are available for all instruments. Individual parts are available for each rhythm section member.
mp3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
mp3 minus piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- play figures/walk for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 bass & drums only - to feature piano, guitar, vibes, or any melodic instrument that likes to play without harmonic accompaniment
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
-- melody
-- trumpet solo 3 choruses (1 chorus = B1 + B2, 24 measures total)
-- out melody
-- coda
Exclusive audio Minus You tracks are available for all instruments. Individual parts are available for each rhythm section member.
mp3 minus melody
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
mp3 minus piano
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus bass
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- play figures/walk for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 minus drums
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play figures for the melody
-- comp for the trumpet solo 3 choruses
-- play figures for the out melody and coda
mp3 bass & drums only - to feature piano, guitar, vibes, or any melodic instrument that likes to play without harmonic accompaniment
-- count off sets up the melody
-- play the melody
-- solo 3 choruses
-- play the out melody and coda
Related Songs
Email Send Pedro's Time 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, 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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