Kenny Dorham

The Profile

Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 – December 5, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer associated with bebop and hard bop.

Dorham played with Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson and Hank Mobley. Quiet Kenny was released in 1959 on Prestige and features Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (double bass) and Art Taylor (drums). The album mixes standards and originals, including "Lotus Blossom", "Mack the Knife", "Blue Friday" and "My Ideal". Despite high-quality recordings, Dorham did not achieve the commercial success of contemporaries like Miles Davis.

Kenny Dorham is presented as a poetic, talented jazz trumpeter whose Quiet Kenny (1959, Prestige) features Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor. The review notes high-quality recordings but limited commercial success. Dorham worked with leading bebop and hard bop figures.