Afro-Cuban is an album by American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham, recorded for Blue Note on March 29, 1955 and released later that year on the Blue Note Modern Jazz Series, shortly before the label discontinued the format. It was soon reissued on the new 1500 series, recompiled with a session by an early incarnation of the ensemble, with new cover art.[2]
| Afro-Cuban | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | End of October 1955 (10")[1] End of May 1957 (12")[2] | |||
| Recorded | January 30 and March 29, 1955 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio Hackensack, NJ | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 18:53 (10") 35:08 (12") 45:44 (CD) | |||
| Label | Blue Note BLP 5065 (10") BLP 1535 (12") | |||
| Producer | Alfred Lion | |||
| Kenny Dorham chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 10" Vinyl (1955) artwork | ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |  [4] |
The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos states, "A first-rate recording for the under-appreciated Dorham, this one should be in every collection of all true music lovers."[3]
Track listing
edit10" LP, BLP 5065
editAll tracks are written by Kenny Dorham, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Afrodisia" | March 29, 1955 | 5:06 |
| 2. | "Lotus Flower" | March 29, 1955 | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Minor's Holiday" | March 29, 1955 | 4:27 | |
| 2. | "Basheer's Dream" | Gigi Gryce | March 29, 1955 | 5:03 |
LP, BLP 1535
editAll tracks are written by Kenny Dorham, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Afrodisia" | March 29, 1955 | 5:06 | |
| 2. | "Lotus Flower" | March 29, 1955 | 4:17 | |
| 3. | "Minor's Holiday" | March 29, 1955 | 4:27 | |
| 4. | "Basheer's Dream" | Gigi Gryce | March 29, 1955 | 5:03 |
| No. | Title | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "K.D.'s Motion" | January 30, 1955 | 5:29 |
| 2. | "La Villa" | January 30, 1955 | 5:24 |
| 3. | "Venita's Dance" | January 30, 1955 | 5:22 |
CD reissues
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Afrodisia" | March 29, 1955 | 5:02 | |
| 2. | "Lotus Flower" | March 29, 1955 | 4:15 | |
| 3. | "Minor's Holiday" | March 29, 1955 | 4:25 | |
| 4. | "Minor's Holiday" (alternate take) | March 29, 1955 | 4:21 | |
| 5. | "Basheer's Dream" | Gigi Gryce | March 29, 1955 | 5:00 |
| 6. | "K.D.'s Motion" | January 30, 1955 | 5:25 | |
| 7. | "La Villa" | January 30, 1955 | 5:20 | |
| 8. | "Venita's Dance" | January 30, 1955 | 5:18 | |
| 9. | "K.D.'s Cab Ride" | January 30, 1955 | 6:06 |
- The 2007 RVG edition restores the original track order, placing the alternate take of "Minor's Holiday" at the end, and retitles "K.D.'s Cab Ride" to "Echo of Spring".
Personnel
editMusicians
editJanuary 30, 1955
edit- Kenny Dorham – trumpet
- Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
- Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
- Horace Silver – piano
- Percy Heath – bass
- Art Blakey – drums
March 29, 1955
edit- Kenny Dorham – trumpet
- J. J. Johnson – trombone
- Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
- Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
- Horace Silver – piano
- Oscar Pettiford – bass
- Art Blakey – drums
- Carlos "Patato" Valdes – conga
- Richie Goldberg – cowbell
Technical personnel
editOriginal
edit- Alfred Lion – producer
- Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer
- Reid Miles – design
- Francis Wolff – photography
- Leonard Feather – liner notes
Reissue
edit- Michael Cuscuna – producer
- Ron McMaster – digital transfer
References
edit- ^ Billboard Nov 5, 1955
- ^ a b Billboard May 20, 1957
- ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed September 28, 2010
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.