OLIVER NELSON | KING CURTIS | JIMMY FORREST — Soul Battle (1962) RM | Serie Original Jazz Classics, 20 Bit Remastered | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This intriguing session matches three powerful tenor players: Oliver Nelson, King Curtis (in a rare jazz outing), and Jimmy Forrest. With fine backup work by pianist Gene Casey, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Roy Haynes, the tenors battle to a draw on a set of blues and basic material (including a fine version of "Perdido"). Easily recommended to fans of big-toned tenors and straight-ahead swinging. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :  

HARRY EDISON — Mr. Swing + The Swinger (1999) 2CD | Serie Verve Elite Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The late Harry "Sweets" Edison was one of the acknowledged masters of swing trumpet; this reissue combines the original LPs The Swinger and Mr. Swing into a two-CD set with the addition of the previously unreleased "How Am I to Know?" and an Edison original, "Blues in the Closet" (no relation to the Oscar Pettiford piece with the same name). Edison and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest work well together, inspiring one another with lyrical lines on the ballads like "The Very Thought of You," and Edison's easygoing blues "Pussy Willow," but also heat up the session with their playing on an up-tempo Basie-like blues in "Nasty." Edison switches to open horn during most of the second CD. Forrest's vibrato-filled solo on "Ill Wind," and Edison's memorable rendition of "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?," including both open and muted trumpet solos, are second-half highlights. Pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Joe Benjamin, drummer Charlie Persip, and rhythm guitarist Freddie Greene make up the capable rhythm section. This reissue is a part of the Verve Elite limited-edition series with only 6,500 copies pressed. Ken Dryden
Tracklist 1 :
1 Pussy Willow 7:34
Harry "Sweets" Edison / Duke Ellington
2 The Very Thought of You 6:08   
Peter Gosling / Ray Noble
3 Nasty 5:24
Harry "Sweets" Edison
4 The Strollers 6:58
Harry "Sweets" Edison
5 Sunday 6:58
Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
6 Fairground 5:06
Harry "Sweets" Edison
7 How Am I to Know? 7:18
Gordon Jenkins / Jack King
Tracklist 2 :
1 Love Is Here to Stay 9:52   
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 Short Coat 9:46
Harry "Sweets" Edison
3 Baby, Won't You Please Come Home 5:10
Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams
4 Impressario 8:42
Harry "Sweets" Edison
5 Ill Wind 5:53
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
6 Blues in the Closet 9:15
Harry "Sweets" Edison / Oscar Pettiford
Credits :
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums, Timpani – Charlie Persip
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest
Trumpet – Harry Edison

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1949-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1191 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With the end of the 1948 recording strike, Duke Ellington's orchestra appeared on record for the first time in 22 months on November 1, 1949. The classic band was still largely intact (although Al Sears had departed and the trumpet section was a bit weaker than earlier), but its label (Columbia) was clearly hoping for some new hits. This collection has some unusual pieces along the way, including "Joog, Joog" and "The Piano Roll Blues," but there is an excellent four-song date featuring former Ellington sideman Oscar Pettiford on cello. Oddest of all is a September 21, 1950, date that mixes together Ellington, altoist Johnny Hodges, baritonist Harry Carney, and bassist Wendell Marshall with boppish trumpeter Red Rodney, drummer Max Roach, and a variety of vocalists (Chubby Kemp, Sarah Ford, and Al Hibbler). Some of this material was formerly quite rare and, although it is not essential, Ellington completists may be particularly interested in this CD. Scott Yanow    Tracklist + Credits :

ANDY KIRK AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1943-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1075 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This compilation presents selections from the last several recording sessions (mostly for Decca) of bandleader Andy Kirk. 1943-1949 opens with three late 1943 songs from Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, which included trumpeters Fats Navarro and Howard McGhee, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, and vocalist June Richmond. Next comes "Hippy-Dippy," one of the few surviving songs from the only visit Kirk's band made to the studios in 1944. This number is followed by two very popular sellers, "Get Together With the Lord" and "I Know," representing the 1945 period of Andy Kirk and His Orchestra (this time including Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis) and featuring vocals by the Jubalaires, who return to sing on the 1946 recordings of "I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Other vocalists heard on 1943-1949 include Bea Booze, the Four Knights, Joe Williams, and Kenny White. Joslyn Layne
Tracklist :
1    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Shorty Boo 2:59
Vocals – Unknown Artist
Written-By – Unknown Artist
2    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well 2:59
Vocals – June Richmond
Written-By – Alston
3    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Baby Don't You Tell Me No Lie 3:08
Vocals – June Richmond
Written By – Coleman
4    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Hippy-Dippy 2:32
Written-By – Unknown Artist
5    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra And The Jubalaires–    Get Together With The Lord 2:49
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Reichner, Jaffe
6    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra And The Jubalaires–    I Know 3:17
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Jennings, Brooks
7    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    He's My Baby 3:21
Vocals – Beverley White
Written-By – Kirk, White
8    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Alabama Bound 2:56
Vocals – Bea Booze
Written-By – Williams, Jackson
9    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Soothe Me 2:55
Vocals – Billy Daniels
Written-By – Greene
10    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Doggin' Man Blues 3:04
Vocals – Bea Booze
Written-By – Moore, Jordan
11    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You 2:59
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Kuhn
12    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 3:00
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Kuhn
13    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Now You Tell Me 2:54
Vocals – Joe Williams
Written-By – Roberts, Fisher
14    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Louella 3:05
Vocals – Joe Williams
Written-By – Stone, Marks
15    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    So Soon 3:10
Vocals – The Four Knights
Written-By – Razaf, Luce
16    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I'm Falling For You 3:04
Vocals – The Four Knights
Written-By – Williams, Hubert
17    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Little Girl, Don't Cry 2:35
Orchestra – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Jimmy Anderson
Written-By – Davis, Millinder
18    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinking Wine 3:07
Orchestra – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Kenny White
Written-By – Williams, McGhee
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Ben Smith (tracks: 1 to 4), Joe Evans (tracks: 5 to 16), Reuben Phillips (tracks: 1 to 16)
Baritone Saxophone – Ed Loving (tracks: 1 to 4), John Porter (tracks: 7 to 16), John Taylor  (tracks: 5 , 6)
Bass – Al Hall (tracks: 7 to 16), Booker Collins (tracks: 1 to 3), Lavern Baker (tracks: 4 to 6)
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 1 to 16)
Guitar – Floyd Smith (tracks: 5 to 16)
Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 5 to 16), Johnny Young (tracks: 1 to 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tracks: 5 to 16), J.D. King (tracks: 1 to 4), Jimmy Forrest (tracks: 1 to 16), John Harrington (tracks: 1 to 4)
Trombone – Bob Murray (tracks: 1 to 16), Henry Wells (tracks: 7 to 16), Milton Robinson (tracks: 5 to 16), Joe Baird (tracks: 1 to 4), Wayman Richardson (tracks: 1 to 16)
Trumpet – Art Capehart (tracks: 1 to 4), Clarence Trice (tracks: 13 to 16), Claude Dunson (tracks: 5 to 12), Fats Navarro (tracks: 1 to 4, 7 to 10), Fip Ricard (tracks: 13 to 16), Harry Lawson (tracks: 1 to 12), Howard McGhee (tracks: 1 to 3), John Lynch (tracks: 5 to 16), Talib Daawood (tracks: 5, 6), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4, 11 to 16)

JIMMY FORREST - Black Forrest (1959-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1972 LP, a complement to All the Gin Is Gone, released the remainder of tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest's two Delmark sessions, including four alternate takes and five other songs. Forrest sounds fine, guitarist Grant Green was making his debut on record, and the rhythm section (pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Gene Ramey and drummer Elvin Jones) plays up to par. Get All the Gin Is Gone first, and then, if one wants to hear the rest of the story, this set. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Black Forrest 5:20
Jimmy Forrest
2 Dog It 4:46
Jimmy Forrest
3 These Foolish Things 6:07
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
4 Sunkenfoal 5:54
Jimmy Forrest
5 You Go to My Head 4:43
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
6 Black Forrest 2:28
Jimmy Forrest
7 What's New? 2:11
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
8 But Beautiful 4:19
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
9 All the Gin Is Gone 4:48
Public Domain
10 These Foolish Things 4:13
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
Credits:
 Bass – Gene Ramey
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Grant Green
Piano – Harold Mabern
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest

JIMMY FORREST - All the Gin Is Gone (1959-1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     All the Gin Is Gone 4:46
Public Domain / Jimmy Forrest
2     Laura 6:41
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
3     You Go to My Head 6:31
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
4     Myra 5:30
Jimmy Forrest
5     Caravan 9:23
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
6     What's New? 2:57
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
7     Sunkenfoal 5:18
Jimmy Forrest
Credits :
Bass – Gene Ramey
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Grant Green
Piano – Harold Mabern
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest

JIMMY FORREST - Out of the Forrest (1961-1994) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This CD reissue is an excellent example of tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest in a soulful but fairly straight-ahead setting. Accompanied by pianist Joe Zawinul, bassist Tommy Potter and drummer Clarence Johnston, Forrest revives his "Bolo Blues," and plays his basic "Crash Program," and otherwise sticks to melodic standards. His highly expressive powers and ability to say a lot with a few notes is very much in evidence on this excellent set. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Bolo Blues 4:07
Jimmy Forrest
2     I Cried for You 5:03
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
3     I've Got a Right to Cry 4:22
Joe Liggins
4     This Can't Be Love 4:03
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     By the River Sainte Marie 5:13
Edgar Leslie / Harry Warren
6     Yesterdays 5:08
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
7     Crash Program 4:02
Jimmy Forrest / J.J. Johnson / Johnson
8     That's All 4:54
Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Potter
Drums – Clarence Johnston
Piano – Joe Zawinul
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest

BETTY ROCHÉ - Singin' & Swingin' (1960-1992) Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series / RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Betty Roché should have been much more famous. She had two barely documented periods with Duke Ellington's orchestra and recorded three excellent albums as a leader from 1956-1961 (all of which are available on CD), but then faded away into complete obscurity. This reissue (which is mistakenly given the incorrect date of January 24, 1961, which was actually Roché's following release) matches the singer with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, organist Jack McDuff (near the beginning of his career), guitarist Bill Jennings, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Roy Haynes. Roché performs nine famous standards, coming up with fresh variations in her phrasing to such numbers as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Moon," and "Billie's Bounce." Recommended, as are all of the other recordings in her slim discography.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1   Come Rain Or Come Shine  3:48
Written-By – Arlen-Mercer
2   A Foggy Day  3:37
Written-By – Gershwin-Gershwin
3   Day By Day  3:55
Written-By – Stordahl, Weston, Cahn
4   When I Fall In Love  3:18
Written-By – Heyman, Young
5   Blue Moon  3:01
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
6   Where Or When
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
7   September Song   2:08
Written-By – Weill, Anderson
8   (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along  4:10
Written-By – Nichols, Freeman, Holiner, Cahn, Chaplin
9   Billie's Bounce   3:12
Written-By – Charlie Parker
Credits :
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Drums – Roy Haynes
Guitar – Bill Jennings
Organ – Jack McDuff
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest
Vocals – Betty Roché

HARRY EDISON - Mr. Swing / The Swinger [1998] 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The late Harry "Sweets" Edison was one of the acknowledged masters of swing trumpet; this reissue combines the original LPs The Swinger and Mr. Swing into a two-CD set with the addition of the previously unreleased "How Am I to Know?" and an Edison original, "Blues in the Closet" (no relation to the Oscar Pettiford piece with the same name). Edison and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest work well together, inspiring one another with lyrical lines on the ballads like "The Very Thought of You," and Edison's easygoing blues "Pussy Willow," but also heat up the session with their playing on an up-tempo Basie-like blues in "Nasty." Edison switches to open horn during most of the second CD. Forrest's vibrato-filled solo on "Ill Wind," and Edison's memorable rendition of "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?," including both open and muted trumpet solos, are second-half highlights. Pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Joe Benjamin, drummer Charlie Persip, and rhythm guitarist Freddie Greene make up the capable rhythm section. This reissue is a part of the Verve Elite limited-edition series with only 6,500 copies pressed.  by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist:
Disc 1
1 Pussy Willow 7:34
Harry "Sweets" Edison / Duke Ellington
2 The Very Thought of You 6:08  
Peter Gosling / Ray Noble
3 Nasty 5:24
Harry "Sweets" Edison 
4 The Strollers 6:58
Harry "Sweets" Edison
5 Sunday 6:58
Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
6 Fairground 5:06
Harry "Sweets" Edison
7 How Am I to Know? 7:18
Gordon Jenkins / Jack King

Disc 2
1 Love Is Here to Stay 9:52  
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 Short Coat 9:46
Harry "Sweets" Edison
3 Baby, Won't You Please Come Home 5:10
Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams
4 Impressario 8:42
Harry "Sweets" Edison
5 Ill Wind 5:53
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
6 Blues in the Closet 9:15
Harry "Sweets" Edison / Oscar Pettiford
Credits 
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums, Timpani – Charlie Persip
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest
Trumpet – Harry Edison

HARRY EDISON - Mr. Swing / The Swinger 

[1998] 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless 

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