No End – Kenny Dorham

The title of this song is quite literal: the form is cyclic, with no resolution at the end but instead a harmonic loop back to the beginning. There are no repeats in the form, which is 28 measures long divided into a 16-measure A section and 12-measure B. Though this is all made up of four-measure phrases, the melody flows freely with that classic Dorham momentum. It's a serene, majestic melody in a similar mood to Escapade and La Mesha. The changes are mostly in an E♭ major tonality, but the B section travels to G♭, E, and B major. There is a two-measure bass figure that is repeated down a whole step, on the first two chords of E♭maj9 and D♭9; the same figure returns for the G♭maj7 and Emaj9 chords in the B section. A bass part is available.

Our audio excerpt starts with the bass pickup to the melody, but on the recording, Jimmy, his son and Curtis Fuller sing K.D.'s opening part of Kenny's original intro. The intro alternates E♭ and D♭ chords. It begins rubato with the two chords held out twice, each with an identical three-note melody phrase; on this recording the words "There's no end" are sung by band members (and harmonized a fourth above) CLIP. The bass then comes in with the same figure from the A section, again repeated twice for a total of eight measures. The coda is the same but with the sections switched: eight measures of rhythm section in time with the bass figure, and then the same rubato section with the vocals. You can also hear this opening rubato intro (instrumentally) on our audio excerpt of Jimmy's later recording of No End.

Don Sickler: "I'll never forget the day that Curtis asked me: 'What about K.D.'s composition No End?' I told him I wasn't familiar with that title. Curtis then sang the melody to the whole song, which totally blew me away. Curtis said I should also talk to Jimmy Heath about the song, as K.D. had taught the song to both of them. I talked to Jimmy, who, like Curtis, proceeded to sing the entire melody for me! Jimmy said he'd already recorded it (1974-Landmark label). We're now making the music available so everyone can play it."

This is the first of three recordings of this song by Jimmy Heath. Click on the second album cover for the version from his 1981 album "Brotherly Love." Stanley Cowell played on this recording as well. A third Jimmy Heath version comes from his big band album "Turn Up The Heath," recorded in 2006.

Though Curtis Fuller isn't playing trombone on this first recording of this song, he participates in the group vocals in the intro and coda. Guitarist Pat Martino had previously recorded with Jimmy Heath on Don Patterson's 1973 album "These Are Soulful Days."