Vinyl: KENNY DORHAM jazz LP “Afro-Cuban” BLUE NOTE 1535 flat edge LEXINGTON frame NICE

Artist : KENNY DORHAM

Title : “Afro-Cuban”

Label : BLUE NOTE # BLP 1535. Monaural pressing on heavy vinyl, with FLAT EDGE.

Label address on both sides is “BLUE NOTE RECORDS *167 LEXINGTON AVE* NYC” .

“RVG” is etched in the runout groove on both sides.

Plastylite (“ear”) symbol is stamped in the runout groove on both sides.

Jacket address is as follows: “For Complete Catalog Write to BLUE NOTE RECORDS, 767 Lexington Ave., New York 21”

Year : 1955

Personnel :

Kenny Dorham – trumpet

Jay Jay Johnson – trombone

Hank Mobley – tenor sax

Cecil Payne – baritone sax

Horace Silver – piano

Percy Heath – bass

Carlos “Potato” Valdes – conga

Art Blakey - drums.

Condition :

DISC : Vinyl is VG++ with full original gloss. Has been played a small number of times and handled with care. There are a few very slight “surface” scuffs but nothing serious or audible, nothing that interferes with the listening enjoyment on this remarkably clean LP. Plays beautifully with superb fidelity as you can hear in the accompanying sound clips. Labels are clean.

JACKET : Jacket is nice VG to VG+. Front panel is clean and bright; has some light ring wear. Top seam and spine have rubbing wear; bottom seam is completely split. Reverse has some ring wear and has darkened slightly; has a few small, light moisture marks at top left corner, see photo. Bottom right corner is noticeably bumped. On the good side, there is no writing, stickers, Overall a very presentable jacket to accompany the great sounding disc.

Jacket has some issues, but is overall probably acceptable for most collectors given the fine condition of the disc. Shelf wear is quite noticeable on top and bottom seams, and along that portion of the spine nearest the top. Bottom seam is completely split – I did not attempt to repair. The front art panel shows some moderate surface wear, and the reverse is beginning to show ring wear; also has three small, light moisture droplet stains at the upper left corner. Bottom right corner is noticeably bumped, and there is a very small tear on the reverse edge approximately 3 inches down from the top left corner. I have attempted to make note of every flaw on the jacket which actually is quite presentable given the rarity and condition of the disc. Please take a good look at the photos, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have. On the good side, there is no writing, stickers, or other defects.

NOTE: Play graded, and cleaned on a Nitty Gritty “mini-Pro” professional model record cleaning machine. Nicest of all, your satisfaction is fully guaranteed.

Track Listing :

Side One :

• Afrodisia
• Lotus Flower
• Minor’s Holiday
• Basheer’s Dream

Side Two:

• K. D.’s Motion
• The Villa
• Venita’s Dance

Review :

“Considering the time period, this date remains way ahead of the Latin-tinged and hard bop music that would follow. It would be difficult to assess the sextet being a step below the larger group effort, but only because it is much less Afro-Cuban. Nonetheless the unmistakable drumming of Art Blakey powers the combo through the blisteringly swinging "La Villa" with unison horns (Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Cecil Payne, baritone sax). The other easy swinging pieces "K.D.'s Motion," "Venita's Dance," and "Echo of Spring/K.D.'s Car Ride" display great group empathy and seem effortless, though they're not. It's the Latin-based music that really differentiates this band from all others of this era, save Dizzy Gillespie's. Payne's robust bari ignites the hip call-and-response motif of "Afrodisia," while his horn in tandem with pianist Horace Silver backs the up-front horns, supplemented by trombonist J.J. Johnson, for the heated mambo-ish hard bopper "Basheer's Dream." Two takes of "Minor's Holiday" are, curiously enough, exactly the same time at 4:24, both super cooking with Dorham's clear-as-a-bell trumpet leading the other horns, which practically act as backup singers. Percussionist Carlos "Patato" Valdes is the perfect spice added to this dish. The lone ballad, "Lotus Flower," is remarkable in that its marked tender restraint feels on the brink of wanting to cut loose, but never does. A first-rate recording for the under-appreciated Dorham, this one should be in every collection of all true music lovers.”

(courtesy Michael G. Nastos, allmusic.com.)

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