Kenny Dorham Quintet

AMG Review of Kenny Dorham Quintet

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Kenny Dorham's debut as a leader found the 29-year-old trumpeter more than ready to take control; unfortunately, he spent virtually his entire career in the shadows of other trumpeters (such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, and Lee Morgan). This set was originally released by the Debut label as a six-song 10" LP, reissued with two alternate takes as a regular album, and then re-released during the CD era with two additional lues and another alternate take. The fine playing by the quintet (with Jimmy Heath on tenor and baritone, pianist Walter Bishop, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke) is not watered down by the extra material. A special bonus is the fine arranging of Dorham for the ensemble, a much overlooked talent of a continually underrated musician.