Jimmy Forrest
had a tremendous hit in 1951 with
"Night Train,"
a simple
blues
riff he lifted from
Duke Ellington
's
"Happy Go Lucky Local."
Although the tenorman was not able to duplicate that song's appeal with any other recording, he was a popular performer in the
R&B
circuit throughout the 1950s. Virtually all of his records from the era (originally made for the
United
label) are on this CD reissue, including five selections not previously released. The tough-toned
Forrest
was not really a screamer or a honker, and the 17 numbers on the set should be of interest both to early
and
jazz
collectors. Recorded in Chicago,
fronts a rhythm section that includes either
Charles Fox
or
Bunky Parker
on piano and sometimes trumpeter
Chauncey Locke
or trombonist
Bert Dabney
. The music is very enjoyable and highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow