Trompeta Toccata (album)

Trompeta Toccata is a 1964 jazz album by trumpeter Kenny Dorham. It was released on Blue Note label in 1964 as BST 84181. It was remastered by Rudy Van Gelder in 2006. Trompeta Toccata, as the previous Una Mas, features only four pieces, three of which were written by Dorham himself. They are mostly fast bop pieces featuring long trumpet and saxophones solos. Like many Dorham compositions, they incorporate elements of Latin music and blues. Trompeta Toccata is recognized as one of Dorham's most enduring works, recorded in his most prolific and inspired period; many critics expected an even greater followup. This one, however, never came since Trompeta Toccata would be his last appearance as a leader, and, as Bob Blumenthal points out in his liner notes, "the remainder of Dorhams' recorded career was confined to sideman appearances that can be counted on the fingers of one hand".

The pieces
Dorham felt very satisfied working with these musicians - Henderson, Flanagan, Davis and especially Heath - "he always kept the soloist sparked up". About Henderson, he stated "He never fails to excite me[...]. For instance, after I played him the melody of "Trompeta Toccata", he wrote the chords for it. And what he wrote is what I heard in my own ear". Dorham chose the title Trompeta Toccata "since the term "toccata" comes from a Latin language base, and since the song is in 6/8 with an Afro-Latin feeling; it seemed logical to make the whole title Latin". According to Dorham, "Night Watch", a bluesy piece, speaks of the night and darkness; "It's very late at night, and the mood is what comes when you're alone at that time". "Mamacita" is a 12-bars bossa nova. During its recording, Dorham recalls that once they got started on it, they were caught on fire; even Blue Note producer Alfred Lion and photographer Francis Wolff began to move to rhythm. "The Fox" has a 12-8-12 bars structure and is a sort of look to the past, since, in his boyhood, Dorham used to trap foxes for hides. According to Dorham, the piece was so titled also because of Richard Davis' "fox-like look".

Track listing
All tracks composed by Kenny Dorham, except where noted.


 * 1) "Trompeta Toccata" - 12:21
 * 2) "Night Watch" - 5:44
 * 3) "Mamacita" (Joe Henderson) - 11:02
 * 4) "The Fox" - 7:59

Personnel

 * Kenny Dorham - trumpet
 * Tommy Flanagan - piano
 * Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
 * Richard Davis - double bass
 * Albert Heath - drums