One of the sweetest sounding bop trumpets was played by Kenny Dorham, who was best known for his work with Art Blakey and then Joe Henderson, but who also did some impressive work on his own as a leader. This two disc collection puts together his first releases, starting in 1953 when he was 29 with Jimmy Heath/ts-bs, Walter Bishop/p, Percy Heath/b and Kenny Clarke/dr. He’s impressive on a lyrical read of “Ruby My Dear” and richly romantic on “I Love You” . Next is a nonet and sextet session with Art Blakey/dr, Oscar Pettiford/b, Horace Silver/p, Cecil Payne/bas, Hank Mobley /ts, JJ Johnson/tb and a pair of percussionists for a hard swing “La Villa” and some hot relaying of the horns on “Afrodisia”. Dorham brings in some jazz prophet in JR Montrose/ts, Dick Katz/p, Sam Jones/b and Arthur Edgehill/dr for a collection of straight-ahead reads of “Don’t Explain” and a hip “Blues Elegant”. Last, Dorham is recorded in concert with JR Montrose/ts, Bobby Timmons/p, Sam Jones/b and Arthur Edghill/dr a the Café Bohemia for some richly romantic pieces like “Autumn in New York” as well as hard boppers like “Monaco” and an over the top “Night In Tunisia”. Hard bop spoken here.