Matt This is wonderful that we have someone who comes from Texas in Jazz as the majority seem to be Country but like a country song Kenny Dorham did not have good luck. Underrated is the term and Kenny was, he made some beautiful jazz and just could not get to that next level with popularity. Trumpet player of course with a tone a tad higher than Miles but sure not in the Charlie Shaver or Dizzy Gillespie spectrum. Kenny played with them all, Dizzy, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey and was even in "The Charlie Parker Quintet". He recorded 12 albums under his own name throughout his career on a mix of labels, five being at Blue Note and this one is smack in the middle of them all at number three. What we have here with "Whistle Stop" is one superb Jazz album that most likely has sold more in cd format than it ever did when it was originally released on vinyl in 1961 and guess who is on Piano, yes it is Kenny Drew who played with so many fine jazz muscians and who will ever forget his contribution on a certain record called "Blue Train". Hank Mobley is doing duties on Tenor Saxophone and if it is a Blue Note stalwart you are looking he certainly fits the bill.That rythmn section is back.Paul Chambers is plucking Bass and Philly Joe Jones is pounding drums with precision being the best description.

"Philly's Twist" is first up, dedicated to a certain drummer in the same band at this session. Philly Joe Jones opens with a quick drum intro and along comes the theme and then it is Kenny on trumpet .Great clear solo over this quick number, Hank next and of course it is a round sound, Kenny Drew's turn on piano, along comes Paul with some great bass with Philly adding little extras and then Philly as he should , the tune was dedicated to him. Kenny said he named the next "Buffalo" as the animal is earthy. Blues which is the component of the tune seems to be just that."Sunset" is in 3rd spot for this race and is quite a nice expressive piece with Kenny and has great solos by Hank and Kenny Drew. The title is "Whistle Stop" and what a wonderful fast moving little number this is. My favourite from the album with Hank doing a great job on tenor, very tasty groove in that solo, Kenny is just as good. Philly gives the drum kit an absolute hammering and one superb quick jazz number is the result. "Sunrise in Mexico" is a nice contrast to the previous one and the theme is really catchy.Paul opens with a nice bass section with Kenny slipping in a little piano and Paul Chambers gives us a solo too with some great stuff from the others but it is Paul on bass which gives the composition that feel, great stuff. Kenny and Hank do another great job. They played together in "The Jazz Messengers about six years before this recording and with that experience together they compliment each others playing and know exactly where the other is at and boy does it help with the quality of this recording.

Kenny Dorham had some more bad luck at 48 when died from kidney diesease and jazz lost another great. Even if he was not that well received his fellow muscians sure knew he was a talent.The prophetic "Dorham's Epitah" is the closer for the album and Kenny wanted to have his own little theme with Kenny just stretching out with a nice slow solo but is that more a feeling of melancholy that I hear for missed opportunties.Kenny Dorham was a superb jazz songwriter as well as a trumpet player and he did have good luck with the fact that he was a hell'uva great musician.This is one beautiful no frills jazz album and a joy from begining to end. Certainly had more than a few spins by me.