Sunset – Kenny Drew, Sr.
A ballad with a very intricate chord progression.
- Recording: Jackie McLean - The Meeting, vol. 1
- Recorded on: July 21, 1973
- Label: SteepleChase (SCS 1106)
- Concert Key: C
- Style: Ballad
- Alto Sax - Jackie McLean
- Tenor Sax - Dexter Gordon
- Piano - Kenny Drew
- Bass - Niels Henning Orsted Pederson
- Drums - Alex Riel
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Our audio excerpt starts with Kenny Drew's two-measure intro, played by the two horns only. Then Jackie McLean (alto sax) plays the melody, while Dexter Gordon (tenor sax), plays Kenny's harmony part. We're making both parts available, in separate editions.
This is only time Kenny recorded Sunset with two horns. After this recording, he often performed it as a solo piano piece.
This is only time Kenny recorded Sunset with two horns. After this recording, he often performed it as a solo piano piece.
Don Sickler: "The first recording of this beautiful ballad, with Kenny Drew accompanying Jackie McLean and Dexter Gordon, was in a nightclub in Copenhagen, Denmark. My research shows that just before Kenny recorded Sunset on his own solo piano session (‘Everything I Love,’ November 13, 1973), he recorded it on solo electric piano (November 8, 1973). This was apparently used by Steeplechase as a seasonal greeting EP and was not issued commercially. Does anyone out there have a copy? I'd love to hear it.
"I always find it fascinating to hear the composer investigate and develop his composition. Here are additional Kenny Drew recordings of Sunset to check out. Short audio clips of three of them can be heard by clicking on the album names below (in blue type):
-- On November 13, 1973, he recorded it (solo piano) for his Everything I Love album.
-- On February 3, 1977, he recorded a moving performance in a trio context (piano/guitar/bass) on In Concert (Kaiserlautern, Germany).
-- On June 9, 1978, he recorded a solo version in Warsaw, Poland
-- January 23, 1981 (Tokyo, Japan) All The Things You Are
-- November 23, 1981 (Milan, Italy): It Might As Well Be Spring
-- June 14, 1991 (Copenhagen, Denmark) Evergreen
"I always find it fascinating to hear the composer investigate and develop his composition. Here are additional Kenny Drew recordings of Sunset to check out. Short audio clips of three of them can be heard by clicking on the album names below (in blue type):
-- On November 13, 1973, he recorded it (solo piano) for his Everything I Love album.
-- On February 3, 1977, he recorded a moving performance in a trio context (piano/guitar/bass) on In Concert (Kaiserlautern, Germany).
-- On June 9, 1978, he recorded a solo version in Warsaw, Poland
-- January 23, 1981 (Tokyo, Japan) All The Things You Are
-- November 23, 1981 (Milan, Italy): It Might As Well Be Spring
-- June 14, 1991 (Copenhagen, Denmark) Evergreen
Kenny Drew, Sr.
August 28, 1928 – August 4, 1993
Kenny Drew was born in New York City. He studied classical piano but soon turned to jazz. His recording career started in 1950 at age 22, first with Howard McGhee for Blue Note, then Sonny Stitt for Prestige. These two 1950 recordings plus a surviving radio broadcast with Charlie Parker (December 8, 1950) put him in the company of jazz greats J.J Johnson, Max Roach and Art Blakey. Read more...