On March 29, 1955 trumpeter Kenny Dorham led a group of musicians into Rudy Van Gelder’s recording studio in Hackensack, New Jersey for the second date of two sessions that would result in the album “Afro-Cuban.” The other musicians were tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne, trombonist J.J. Johnson, pianist Horace Silver, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Art Blakey with Carlos Valdes playing conga and Richie Goldberg on cowbell. The music recorded that day and on a date two months earlier would be released on the Blue Note label in ten-inch format in late October 1955, and later as a twelve-inch album in May of 1957.

A review by Michael G. Nastos states that “Afro-Cuban” is “a first-rate recording for the under-appreciated Dorham, this one should be in every collection of all true music lovers." The album became available on CD in 1987.

Here is a link to the first cut from the album:

"AFRODISIA"