Jimmy Forrest - All the Gin Is Gone (1959/1997) CD-Rip

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.
Although Jimmy Forrest is well known for composing and playing the huge R&B hit "Night Train" his bebop tenor sax playing ranks among the best. This 1959 session features the very first recording of guitarist GRANT GREEN who later went on to Blue Note records. These were also early recordings of drummer Elvin Jones who was yet to join the legendary John Coltrane Quartet. The less than gentle title of this album should give you a gleaming insight to the hearty type of offering enclosed; uninhibited mainstream bebop.


Tracks:

01. All the Gin Is Gone (Forrest) - 4:50
02. Laura (Raksin-Mercer) - 6:46
03. You Go to My Head (Coots-Gillespie) - 6:36
04. Myra (Forrest) - 5:34
05. Caravan (Ellington-Mills-Tizol) - 9:27
06. What's New (Haggart-Burke) - 3:01
07. Sunkenfoal (Forrest) - 5:18

Personnel:

Jimmy Forrest - tenor saxophone
Grant Green - guitar
Harold Mabern - piano
Gene Ramey - bass
Elvin Jones - drums

Recorded at Hall Studios, Chicago, IL on December 10-12, 1959.