Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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FORREST, Jimmy

(b 24 January 1920, St Louis; d 26 August 1980, Grand Rapids MI) Tenor sax, leader. Played with Fate Marable, Jeter/Pillars '30s; Jay McShann, Andy Kirk '40s; Duke Ellington '49-50. With his own R&B band he scored a no. 1 on that chart hit with 'Night Train' '52) taking composer credit for bluesy Ellington riff ('That's The Blues Old Man', credited to Johnny Hodges '40) and a shuffle beat (from 'Happy-Go-Lucky Local' by Duke and son Mercer '46). Duke took a philosophical attitude, at least in public; Forrest took the money, having seen the commercial value of the tune: every high school band played 'Night Train', while few would have heard the originals. 'Hey Mrs Jones' also hit '52, both covered by Buddy Morrow for the white market, 'Jones' without the sly lyrics sung by Forrest's band: 'Hey Mrs Jones...Your back door slam...Hey Mrs Jones...I'd better scram...'

Forrest recorded live with Miles Davis at the Barrelhouse Club in St Louis '52; made a single 'Night Train Mambo' '54 on Dot; was out of music as a guest of the authorities mid-'50s; played with Basie mid-'70s; happily married and retired to Grand Rapids late '70s. Delmark bought United and States labels and compiled R&B hits on LP, then a CD called Night Train; the sound was remarkably good for the time and made good transfers. Forrest albums as leader: All The Gin Is Gone and Black Forrest '59 are quintet sets with Gene Ramey and Elvin Jones, also on Delmark; albums on New Jazz or Prestige (later on Fantasy CDs) include Forrest Fire!, Out Of The Forrest (with Joe Zawinul), Sit Down And Relax, Most Much '60-61; Soul Street '62 included some nine-piece tracks directed by Oliver Nelson. Live Heart Of The Forrest '78 on Palo Alto (on Muse CD) was made at the Alibi Club, Grand Rapids, by a trio with Shirley Scott. He had also recorded with Cat Anderson and Harry Edison '58, Jo Jones '60, etc.