Kenny Dorham – The Best Of

Kenny Dorham – The Best Of

A concise yet powerful showcase of one of bebop and hard bop’s most elegant trumpet voices, The Best Of captures Kenny Dorham’s distinctive blend of lyrical warmth, rhythmic agility, and understated technical brilliance.

Often regarded as one of jazz’s most underrated trumpeters, Dorham brought a refined, conversational quality to his playing - never overstated, always deeply musical. This collection highlights his ability to balance melodic beauty with intricate improvisation, whether in up-tempo hard bop settings or more spacious, modal explorations.

From the swinging energy of Philly Twist to the enduring jazz standard Blue Bossa, a tune Dorham helped popularize, this set reflects both his compositional strength and his role as a key voice in shaping post-bop jazz vocabulary. The inclusion of extended performances like Una Más and tightly constructed pieces such as Short Story further underline his versatility as both soloist and composer.

A strong entry point into his work, The Best Of is an essential reminder of Dorham’s quiet but lasting influence on modern jazz trumpet.

Tracklist:

1 Minor’s Holiday – 4:24
2 Lotus Flower – 4:14
3 Mexico City – 5:58
4 Philly Twist – 5:36
5 Blue Bossa – 7:57
6 Short Story – 7:09
7 Una Más – 15:15
8 The Fox – 7:58