KENNY DORHAM — Una Mas (One More Time) (review)

KENNY DORHAM — Una Mas (One More Time) album cover

Album · 1963 · Hard Bop

4.5/5 · 2011-12-21
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.