This 1959 recording is not just about tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, there’s an amazing band backing him up and it makes up for a special album. “All the Gin is Gone” as you will read below featured Grant Green, pianist Harold Mabern and a great bass-drummer combination of Gene Ramsey-Elvin Jones. Their version of “Caravan” is one of the best I’ve heard. This album will be featured for a week or so and then placed in the Hard Bop playlist, check the schedule link for play times.
About the album:
This was the first album that tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest made after his R&B phase ended. Particularly notable is that the set served as the recording debut of guitarist Grant Green; completing the band are pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Gene Ramey and drummer Elvin Jones. The top-notch group performs two ballads, “Caravan” and three basic Forrest originals, including the title cut. The music is essentially melodic and blues-based hard bop that looks toward soul-jazz. Everyone sounds in fine form. ~ Scott Yanow tenor sax player’s 1959 session features the very first recording of Grant Green & young Elvin Jones on drums, also Harold Mabern-pno……Read More
Jimmy Forrest Biography:
Jimmy Robert Forrest Jr. (saxophonist) was born on January 24, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on August 26, 1980.
Big-toned tenor saxophonists were nurtured, as a rule, in the big bands of the Thirties and Forties. Jimmy Forrest, known for his huge hit “Night Train,” (which reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart in March 1952) was featured in the orchestras of Andy Kirk and Duke Ellington, and then struck out as prolific bandleader. He was a popular performer in the R&B circuit throughout the 1950s.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Forrest worked in the Midwest with pianist Eddie Johnson, Fate Marable, the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, and Don Albert. Respected for his tone and his swinging style, Forrest worked with the Jay McShann Orchestra and the Andy Kirk big band (1942-1948). He had a stint with Duke Ellington in 1949 and two years later recorded “Night Train.” The success of that hit allowed Forrest to lead his own band for several years, recording other similar r&b-oriented material.
During the 1950s, Forrest was recorded live in St. Louis with Miles Davis and in the studio on dates led by Cat Anderson. Forrest’s heart was always in swinging jazz and he enjoyed his association with trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison during 1958-1963….Read More
