Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia is a live album by American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham recorded at the Café Bohemia on May 31, 1956 and released on Blue Note later that year.

Background Composition and recording The song "Hill's Edge", credited to Dorham on the release, is partially the jazz standard Tune Up played with a new introduction and contrafact composed by Dorham. "N.Y. Theme", credited to Dorham on the release, is Thelonious Monk's 52nd Street Theme. "Royal Roost", which Dorham had recorded in 1946 as a member of Kenny Clarke's 52nd Street Boys group, was recorded by Sonny Rollins in May 1956 under the title Tenor Madness. "Mexico City" is a contrafact of Bud Powell's composition Tempus Fugit.

Release history The original release featured 6 tracks; another 11 tracks, including some alternate takes, were released on two LPs in 1984 on the Japanese Blue Note label, as BNJ 61003/61004. A complete edition was released as a double-CD set in 2002.

Reception

The AllMusic review states, "This music is designed for relaxing and grooving out. It will greatly assist anyone who is traveling by night or trying to make it through to the end of another day."

The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected album as part of its suggested Core Collection, giving it four-of-four stars.

Track listing Original release

The Complete 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia

Personnel

Musicians Kenny Dorham – trumpet J. R. Monterose – tenor saxophone Kenny Burrell – guitar Bobby Timmons – piano Sam Jones – bass Arthur Edgehill – drums

Technical personnel

Original

Alfred Lion – producer Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer, mastering Reid Miles – design Francis Wolff – photography Leonard Feather – liner notes

Reissue

Michael Cuscuna – producer Rudy Van Gelder – remastering

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for The Complete 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia Chart (2026) Peakposition US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) 21 US Top Traditional Jazz Albums (Billboard) 15

Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for The Complete 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia Chart (2026) Peakposition German Jazz Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 7

References