Poetic Spring – Kenny Dorham
This aptly titled song is a great example of Kenny Dorham at his most poetic and lyrical. Kenny’s recorded septet arrangement is available, with Full Score, Concert Score, recorded parts and alternate parts.
- Recording: Kenny Dorham - Blue Spring
- Recorded on: February 18, 1959
- Label: Riverside (RLP 12-297)
- Concert Key: F
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Kenny Dorham
- French Horn - David Amram
- Alto Sax - Cannonball Adderley
- Bari Sax - Cecil Payne
- Piano - Cedar Walton
- Bass - Paul Chambers
- Drums - Jimmy Cobb
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
A lot of Kenny Dorham’s music can be described as poetic, but Poetic Spring is particularly well-suited to its title. This song features a simple, lyrical melody that flows smoothly throughout the 24-measure form. The changes are mostly tonal to the key of F major, with a brief visit to A major in the fifth and sixth measures. The form is divided into 16-measure A and eight-measure B sections; B starts similarly to A but moves in a different direction starting in the third measure. A rhythmic coda, with a chromatic descending melody, replaces the last two measures of the out head.
About the arrangement: Full score and parts, including alternate parts, are available for the four-horn septet arrangement from the recording. On the head, the trumpet has the melody throughout while the rest of the band fills in with rhythmic figures. These are not stop-time; the rhythm section plays time around the hits, going back and forth between 4-feel and 2-feel in each eight-measure phrase of the melody chorus. Solos go to 4-feel throughout. There are two sets of backgrounds, at the beginning of the second chorus for the trumpet and baritone sax solos respectively. These backgrounds present the soloists with both melodic and rhythmic material to converse with.
A Concert Score (all instruments in the same key) is also available for study.
About the arrangement: Full score and parts, including alternate parts, are available for the four-horn septet arrangement from the recording. On the head, the trumpet has the melody throughout while the rest of the band fills in with rhythmic figures. These are not stop-time; the rhythm section plays time around the hits, going back and forth between 4-feel and 2-feel in each eight-measure phrase of the melody chorus. Solos go to 4-feel throughout. There are two sets of backgrounds, at the beginning of the second chorus for the trumpet and baritone sax solos respectively. These backgrounds present the soloists with both melodic and rhythmic material to converse with.
A Concert Score (all instruments in the same key) is also available for study.
Poetic Spring was recorded at the second session for the “Blue Spring” album. For a song from the first session, featuring Philly Joe Jones on drums rather than Jimmy Cobb, check out Spring Cannon.
Baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne played on several recordings alongside K.D., starting with the latter’s “Afro Cuban” in 1955. “Blue Spring” was the second-to-last issued full album to feature Dorham and Payne together; the last was Payne’s “Zodiac” recorded nearly a decade later. In between, the two played on one track on a Max Roach session in 1960 issued on the Candid compilation “The Jazz Life,” as well as a 1962 Milt Jackson session for which the tapes appear to be lost.
Baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne played on several recordings alongside K.D., starting with the latter’s “Afro Cuban” in 1955. “Blue Spring” was the second-to-last issued full album to feature Dorham and Payne together; the last was Payne’s “Zodiac” recorded nearly a decade later. In between, the two played on one track on a Max Roach session in 1960 issued on the Candid compilation “The Jazz Life,” as well as a 1962 Milt Jackson session for which the tapes appear to be lost.
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Kenny Dorham
August 30, 1924 – December 15, 1972
August 30, 2024, was Kenny Dorham's 100th birthday: jazzleadsheets.com has added 10 new K.D. compositions: K.D.News! Check them out! Kenny was inducted into the Lincoln Center Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame On October 16, 2024, with a Tribute Concert at Dizzy's Club. Four of Kenny's daughters were in attendance. Read more...
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