Afro-Cuban (album)

1955 studio album by Kenny Dorham

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]

Reception

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

10" LP, BLP 5065

All tracks are written by Kenny Dorham, except as noted.

LP, BLP 1535

All tracks are written by Kenny Dorham, except as noted.

CD reissues

• 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

Musicians

January 30, 1955

• Kenny Dorham – trumpet
• Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
• Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
• Horace Silver – piano
• Percy Heath – bass
• Art Blakey – drums

March 29, 1955

• 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

Original

• Alfred Lion – producer
• Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer
• Reid Miles – design
• Francis Wolff – photography
• Leonard Feather – liner notes

Reissue

• Michael Cuscuna – producer
• Ron McMaster – digital transfer

References

1. Billboard Nov 5, 1955
2. Billboard May 20, 1957
3. Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed September 28, 2010
4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.