Whistle Stop – Kenny Dorham

This lively uptempo song is ultimately based on “rhythm changes”—but the head is only the start of the story as it is with many Kenny Dorham compositions. The melody is bluesy and fun throughout, with the two “A sections” different—the form in the melody chorus is indicated ABCD instead of AABC. The bridge changes are essentially a tritone-substituted version of a standard “rhythm changes” bridge, going to E major in the fifth measure instead of the expected E7. Rhythm section hits fill in around the bridge melody; these hits continue for the last eight measures (D) with a chromatic “walk down” under the same melody as the second eight (B).

There is a 12-measure intro, featuring a rolling triplet feel in the rhythm section for the first six measures. A held-out chord in the next two measures leads to a snappy rhythmic tutti figure and a two-measure drum fill into the head. This intro has a slightly mysterious sound using the whole-tone scale. The coda is essentially the same as the intro, but with the last four measures of the intro also appearing at the beginning of the coda. There’s also a drum chorus, with four-measure “send offs” in the A and C sections of the form; these have rhythm section figures that complement the melody.

About the arrangement: The rhythm section arrangement doesn’t stop when you get to the solos! For the horn solos, the piano never comps but instead plays chord hits on the bridge of each chorus only. There is also no piano “comping” behind the first half of the melody chorus—only rhythmic chord figures that fill in between the melody phrases.

The horns play in octaves through the entire head, only harmonizing on the intro and drum chorus. Our melody parts include these harmonies. For the tenor sax 2nd part as recorded, these sections should be played up an octave. The C melody part works for bass and drums as well. A separate piano part is available featuring pianist Kenny Drew’s voicings from the recording.