Dorham was one of the most active bebop trumpeters. He played in the big bands of Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and Mercer Ellington and the quintet of Charlie Parker. He was a charter member of the original cooperative Jazz Messengers. He also recorded as a sideman with Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, and he replaced Clifford Brown in the Max Roach Quintet after Brown's death in 1956. In addition to sideman work, he led his own groups, including the Jazz Prophets (formed shortly after Art Blakey took over the Jazz Messengers name). The Jazz Prophets can be heard on the 1956 Blue Note live album Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia.
Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention from the jazz establishment that many of his peers did. For this reason, his name has become (in the words of writer Gary Giddins) "virtually synonymous with 'underrated.'"
During his final years Dorham suffered from kidney disease, of which he died.
If Ever I Would Leave You
Kenny Dorham Lyrics
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Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
That puts gold to shame.
But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Summer, winter or fall.
No, never could I leave you at all.
No, never could I leave you at all.
If ever I would leave you, it wouldn't be in summer.
If I were to ever leave you, it would not be during the summer season.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Observing your presence during summer, I would never choose to depart.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
The radiance of your sun-kissed hair, fiery red lips, and luminous face.
That puts gold to shame.
Which surpasses the brilliance of gold.
But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
However, if I were to ever leave you, it would not be during autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
The manner in which I would depart during autumn remains unknown to me.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
I have witnessed your sparkle when the crispness of fall is in the air.
I know you in autumn, and I must be there.
I am familiar with your presence in autumn, and I must be present as well.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Could I ever abandon you while you frolic joyfully in the snow?
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
Or on a cold winter evening when you capture the warm glow of the fire.
If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
If I were to ever leave you, how could I possibly do so in the enchanting spring?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
Being aware of the bewitching hold you have over me in the spring.
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Oh, no! Never in the springtime.
Summer, winter or fall.
Neither during summer, winter, nor fall.
No, never could I leave you at all.
No, I could never leave you under any circumstances.
No, never could I leave you at all.
No, I could never leave you under any circumstances.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind