Kenny Dorham - The Complete 'Round Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia (2 CD)

The Complete 'Round Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia is a 2 CD live jazz album in the hard bop genre, recorded by American trumpeter Kenny Dorham with his sextet at the legendary Cafe Bohemia in New York City and originally released in 1956. Featuring tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Arthur Edgehill, it captures a vibrant mid-1950s bop session shortly after Dorham's time with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers at the same venue. The full set showcases Dorham's bright, inventive trumpet leading a tight ensemble through an exhilarating mix of originals, standards, and bebop staples, with standout rhythmic drive from Jones's insistent bass and Timmons's chordal support, creating a thick, immersive sound enhanced by excellent fidelity in later editions.

This complete edition compiles the original six tracks with additional alternates and unissued material, presenting over two hours of dynamic interplay in a relaxed yet communion-like atmosphere between band, audience, and engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Dorham emerges as a quality composer beyond his Latin-tinged hits, complemented by Monterose's abrasive tenor contrast and Burrell's emerging leadership prowess, all amid the club's electric energy. Reviewers praise its full, often thrilling ambience, marking it as a vital document of early Blue Note hard bop and Dorham's unsung mastery.