Hot Stamper Blue Note Albums Available Now
More recordings by Rudy Van Gelder
- Side one was the best we heard in our shootout, earning a grade of nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++)
- It’s clear yet rich- the horns are full-bodied and warm, and the top is fairly extended
- Side two earned a Double Plus (A++) grade – by track two it’s full, smooth and natural
- Both sides are exceptionally quiet, playing a true Mint Minus – for Blue Note that’s rare!
A fun and lively Blue Note, presented here with two especially hot sides and quiet vinyl!
After hearing a copy that blew us away a few years back, we went on the hunt for enough pressings to get this shootout off the ground. It wasn’t easy — run across many clean Kenny Dorham LPs recently? — but we finally pulled it off and this copy really impressed the hell out of us compared to the others we had on hand to play.
Dorham is backed by a killer lineup here — Joe Henderson, Herbire Hancock, Butch Warren and Anthony Williams. AMG calls the music “explorative yet swinging music” that “lives up to its potential”. I’d say it’s one of the better “lesser-known” Blue Note titles, a real sleeper in their catalog.
Side One
The best sound we heard from the album all day. This is the right sound for this music — full, rich and warm, with plenty of studio space.
Side Two
Nearly as good. If you’ve got tubes in your system this side should be killer. It’s lively and present and by track two is exceptionally good sounding.
TRACK LISTING
Side One
Una Mas (One More Time)
Side Two
Straight Ahead
Sao Paolo
AMG Review
When one thinks of great talent scouts in jazz, the name of Kenny Dorham is often overlooked. However, many top young players benefited from playing in his groups, and for proof one need look no further than the lineup [here]: tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Butch Warren, and (before either player joined Miles Davis) pianist Herbie Hancock and drummer Tony Williams. Even if the playing time is a bit brief, the explorative yet swinging music lives up to its potential.