Blues For Jackie – Kenny Dorham

Melodically simple with plenty of rhythm section activity, this blues head has that characteristic K.D. sound. Like Kenny's Windmill (coming soon), it begins with a pedal on the V (C), leading into B♭7 on the fifth measure by way of B7 in the fourth. The rest of the head has those classic stop-time hits that define many Dorham compositions. The melody begins with slightly angular phrases, becoming simpler, bluesier lines for the stop-time section.

On the lead sheet, we've included some chord substitutions from the last four measures of the head, shown under the staff of the solo changes. These alternate changes are an added twist to blow over. On the recording, Kenny plays the melody twice during his solo, and the rhythm section follows with these changes.

"Hipnosis" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.

Jackie McLean's session of June 14, 1962, has an unusual history. It was never released as a separate album, but appeared as half of a double LP in 1978, issued as "Hipnosis;" the other half was a 1967 session that also featured trombonist Grachan Moncur III. In 2000 the same 1962 session was released on the CD issue of "Vertigo" alongside a different session from 1963.

This session is notable in that it contains an original composition by each sideman as well as two from Jackie. The rhythm section of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins first recorded together on Jackie's 1961 album "A Fickle Sonance" with trumpeter Tommy Turrentine; they are also the rhythm section of the classic Dexter Gordon albums "Go" and "A Swingin' Affair" from August '62.