McKinley Howard (Kenny) Dorham (August
30, 1924 – December 5, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter, singer,
and composer born in Fairfield, Texas. Dorham's talent is frequently
lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of
attention from the jazz establishment that many of his peers did or
public recognition. For this reason, writer Gary Giddins said that
Dorham's name has become "virtually synonymous with underrated." He also
composed the jazz standard "Blue Bossa," which first appeared on Joe
Henderson's album Page One.
Dorham was one of the most active bebop trumpeters. He played in the big bands of Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, and Mercer Ellington and the quintet of Charlie Parker. He was a charter member of the original cooperative Jazz Messengers. He also recorded as a sideman with Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, and he replaced Clifford Brown in the Max Roach Quintet after Brown's death in 1956. In addition to sideman work, he led his own groups, including the Jazz Prophets (formed shortly after Art Blakey took over the Jazz Messengers name). The Jazz Prophets, featuring a young Bobby Timmons on piano, bassist Sam Jones and tenorman J. R. Monterose with guest Kenny Burrell on guitar, recorded a live album 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia in 1956 for Blue Note.
In 1963 Dorham added the 26-year-old tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson to his group, which later recorded Una Mas (the group also featured a young Tony Williams). The friendship between the two musicians led to a number of other albums, such as Henderson's Page One, Our Thing and In 'n Out. Dorham recorded frequently throughout the sixties for Blue Note and Prestige Records, as leader and as sideman for Henderson, Jackie McLean, Cedar Walton, Andrew Hill, Milt Jackson and others.
Dorham's quintet originally consisted of some very well known jazz musicians, being Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (double-bass) and Art Taylor (drums). Their recording debut was Quiet Kenny for the New Jazz label, an album which featured mostly ballads. An earlier quartet featuring Dorham as co-leader with alto saxophone player Ernie Henry had released an album together under the name "Kenny Dorham/Ernie Henry Quartet". They produced the album 2 Horns / 2 Rhythm for Riverside Records in 1957 with double-bassist Eddie Mathias and drummer G.T. Hogan. Today the album is being released under the name "Kenny Dorham Quartet", though this is due to marketing and is not technically correct.
During his final years Dorham suffered from kidney disease, from which he died on December 5, 1972, aged 48.
Kenny Dorham.1953- Kenny Dorham Quintet
Kenny Dorham.1954- Moving Out (with Sonny Rollins & Thelonious Monk)
Kenny Dorham.1955- Afro Cuban
Kenny Dorham.1956- Complete 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia
Kenny Dorham.1956- Complete Studio Recordings (with Max Roach & Sonny Rollins) [2 CD]
Kenny Dorham.1956- Kenny Dorham And The Jazz Prophets, Vol. 1
Kenny Dorham.1957- 2 Horns, 2 Rhythms (feat. Ernie Henry)
Kenny Dorham.1957- Jazz Contrasts (feat. Sonny Rollins)
Kenny Dorham.1958- Sings And Plays_This Is The Moment!
Kenny Dorham.1959- Blue Spring (feat. Cannonball Adderley)
Kenny Dorham.1959- Quiet Kenny
Kenny Dorham.1960- Jazz Contemporary
Kenny Dorham.1960- Show Boat
Kenny Dorham.1960- The Arrival Of Kenny Dorham
Kenny Dorham.1961- Inta Somethin' (feat. Jackie McLean)
Kenny Dorham.1961- Osmosis
Kenny Dorham.1961- West 42nd Street
Kenny Dorham.1961- Whistle Stop
Kenny Dorham.1962- Kenny Dorham & Friends
Kenny Dorham.1962- Matador
Kenny Dorham.1963- Una Mas
Kenny Dorham.1964- Kenny Dorham-Barry Harris Quartet- New York 1964
Kenny Dorham.1964- Trompeta Toccata
Kenny Dorham.1966- Last But Not The Least
