Matt One more time, I always thought just one more as "Una Mas" is that when translated but no matter it still is just another great album from Kenny Dorham. Tad short I have to admit running for around 32 minutes with only three compositions included but quality is all high standard with all the compositions written by Kenny Dorham. Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone makes his very first Blue Note recording here as it was Kenny who introduced him to the label. Herbie Hancock, on piano is still in his early twenties and had only done the one album "Takin"Off" although he was playng in the Miles Davis's Quintet and Butch Warren on bass had been around a little time at this stage since his first recording in 1959 with Jackie McLean. Another very interesting point is Tony Williams is only 17 years old when he played the drums on this recording and this is Tony's (or Anthony as he is named on the album cover) very first recording at Blue Note as well. With a mixture of Jazz maturity but with the addition of Joe, Herbie and Tony we get all that youthful energy in their playing and solos. Tony Williams as we know was never short of energy and often it is these recordings from when he was very young that I appreciate and enjoy more with his early material that brought jazz drumming techniques a great update with his arrival on the scene. Kenny Dorham is one of the greats from the Bop idiom in Jazz and never gained his due recognition and once again as with his previous release on Blue Note, "Whistle Stop" we have a beautifully constructed and played album albeit it is a little short in time duration and although another composition would have put the icing on the cake it is still one great Hard Bop album.

The album title "Una Mas" is the first composition as well as the longest running for just over fifteen minutes with Herbie Hancock on piano leading the tune in and the beat is established before Kenny on trumpet takes the first solo with his great mid-tone that he played with plenty of room to stretch due the compositions length and stretch he does making his horn screech at times but keeping it all beautiful. Joe Henderson follows on tenor playing all glorious Hard Bop but still you feel he was just at times getting close to the out there border and he keeps it back with a simply stunning driving solo being the result and Herbie follows them up with his usual superb touch,space and groove. This tune was recorded in a session in April 1963 and when one listens to Blue Note's biggest hit Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" which was recorded later in December of that year the similarities are there and although I am not claiming anything concerning who wrote what it just seems to me the luck of Kenny Dorham as "Una Mas" could be rated just as good as "The Sidewinder" and Kenny added a Bossa vibe as well within "Una Mas". That was Side 1 of the record with the other two numbers on the album flip with "Straight Ahead" the begining where the whole band bar Butch on Bass has a solo with Kenny going first in this up-tempo composition with Joe following on tenor and he plays just another one of his solo's that are are joy to hear and how he motors through them. Herbie displays his beautiful touch on piano with another stunner but next up we get that 17 year old drummer who I will add has been simply brilliant from the first note of the album to the last with his contribution and Tony shows his wicked timing and whack on that drum kit with Kenny and Joe breaking things up througout this fairly quick solo. "Sau Paulo" is the album closer being in a mid-tempo time with a touch of Bossa but keeping it primarily beautifully played Hard Bop with Joe Henderson on tenor having the honour of going first in the solos with Herbie and Kenny following in this slightly unusual structure within the theme being played between each solo.

What about the cover, one of Blue Notes best and what did Kenny Dorham do, maybe he kicked a gypsy or spat on a witch but he seemed to have bad luck with his album's sales. Great album albeit it is a bit short but they are all great numbers played beautifully and also we have Joe, Herbie and Tony red hot with youth contributing. The cd release does have an extra track added to the original album.

Matt This is wonderful that we have someone who comes from Texas in Jazz as the majority seem to be Country but like a country song Kenny Dorham did not have good luck. Underrated is the term and Kenny was, he made some beautiful jazz and just could not get to that next level with popularity. Trumpet player of course with a tone a tad higher than Miles but sure not in the Charlie Shaver or Dizzy Gillespie spectrum. Kenny played with them all, Dizzy, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey and was even in "The Charlie Parker Quintet". He recorded 12 albums under his own name throughout his career on a mix of labels, five being at Blue Note and this one is smack in the middle of them all at number three. What we have here with "Whistle Stop" is one superb Jazz album that most likely has sold more in cd format than it ever did when it was originally released on vinyl in 1961 and guess who is on Piano, yes it is Kenny Drew who played with so many fine jazz muscians and who will ever forget his contribution on a certain record called "Blue Train". Hank Mobley is doing duties on Tenor Saxophone and if it is a Blue Note stalwart you are looking he certainly fits the bill.That rythmn section is back.Paul Chambers is plucking Bass and Philly Joe Jones is pounding drums with precision being the best description.

"Philly's Twist" is first up, dedicated to a certain drummer in the same band at this session. Philly Joe Jones opens with a quick drum intro and along comes the theme and then it is Kenny on trumpet .Great clear solo over this quick number, Hank next and of course it is a round sound, Kenny Drew's turn on piano, along comes Paul with some great bass with Philly adding little extras and then Philly as he should , the tune was dedicated to him. Kenny said he named the next "Buffalo" as the animal is earthy. Blues which is the component of the tune seems to be just that."Sunset" is in 3rd spot for this race and is quite a nice expressive piece with Kenny and has great solos by Hank and Kenny Drew. The title is "Whistle Stop" and what a wonderful fast moving little number this is. My favourite from the album with Hank doing a great job on tenor, very tasty groove in that solo, Kenny is just as good. Philly gives the drum kit an absolute hammering and one superb quick jazz number is the result. "Sunrise in Mexico" is a nice contrast to the previous one and the theme is really catchy.Paul opens with a nice bass section with Kenny slipping in a little piano and Paul Chambers gives us a solo too with some great stuff from the others but it is Paul on bass which gives the composition that feel, great stuff. Kenny and Hank do another great job. They played together in "The Jazz Messengers about six years before this recording and with that experience together they compliment each others playing and know exactly where the other is at and boy does it help with the quality of this recording.

Kenny Dorham had some more bad luck at 48 when died from kidney diesease and jazz lost another great. Even if he was not that well received his fellow muscians sure knew he was a talent.The prophetic "Dorham's Epitah" is the closer for the album and Kenny wanted to have his own little theme with Kenny just stretching out with a nice slow solo but is that more a feeling of melancholy that I hear for missed opportunties.Kenny Dorham was a superb jazz songwriter as well as a trumpet player and he did have good luck with the fact that he was a hell'uva great musician.This is one beautiful no frills jazz album and a joy from begining to end. Certainly had more than a few spins by me.