Sunset – Kenny Dorham

Despite its brief form (16 measures) and simple theme, Sunset is one of Kenny Dorham’s most beautiful compositions. The melody is instantly memorable, and as in many of K.D.’s works, the ensemble arrangement gives the song plenty of detail and sustains interest throughout.

Though the key center of C♯ minor is obvious in the melody, the chord progression only touches down on the tonic at the very end. For the first ten measures, the rhythm section hangs on Dmaj7(♯11), with a syncopated root-chord pattern in the bass and piano on each measure. The 11th through 14th measures feature rhythm section stop-time, complementing the melody with descending chord hits which only reach C♯ minor in the last two measures of the form. These last two measures feature rolling triplet chords in the piano, alternating left- and right-hand voicings. The final touch in this rhythm section arrangement is the unique drum groove: a Latin double-time feel that complements all the syncopations in the melody and bass line.

There’s a four-measure rhythm section intro, featuring similar triplet piano figures to the end of the head with a simpler groove in the drums. Solos go to swing 4-feel; the solo changes are slightly more active than the head, going to C♯ minor in the third through sixth measures instead of sticking to Dmaj7. The coda fades out on solo drums, continuing the double-time Latin groove; here it’s written out in double time to further clarify the rhythm though the pattern is the same as on the head.

The horns play unison the first time through the head; the tenor sax 2nd part adds some harmony notes on the repeat. The head is played only once out, with the harmony notes. Our second parts include both melody and harmony notes, indicated to play the top notes first and the bottom notes the second time.