The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

The pandemic has eased up related to the massive numbers of contractions, hospitalizations, deaths experienced over the past two years. If you’ve been listening and watching you know it is not over. Follow your conscience.

This week I bring you the 1961 album Ease It recorded by the Rocky Boyd Quintet which features trumpeter Kenny Dorham. It is the only known recording by the saxophonist, and was first released by Jazztime Records. It was also released thirteen years later by Muse Records in 1974 as Ease It!.

Once again in 1989 Black Lion released a CD edition retitled West 42nd Street. It was credited to Kenny Dorham and comprised all the takes from the session. Only tracks 1 & 6 have a single take.

Fred Norsworthy was the producer and Bill Stodard the engineer on the recording session that took place on March 13, 1961 at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The cover photography was taken by Gary Gladstone, the liner notes were written by Don Riches.

Track List | 39:42

  1. Avars (Boyd) ~ 7:42
  2. Stella by Starlight (Young, Washington) ~ 5:05
  3. Why Not? (LaRoca) ~ 7:26
  4. Ease It (Chambers) ~ 10:35
  5. Samba De Orfeu (Luiz Bonfá) ~ 4:31
  6. West 42nd Street (Hardin) ~ 4:23
Personnel
  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Rocky Boyd – tenor sax
  • Walter Bishop Jr. – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Pete LaRoca – drums

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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