*** Jimmy Forrest

ALL THE GIN IS GONE

(Delmark)

Tenor-saxophonist Jimmy Forrest is best known for writing the R&B hit/strippers' anthem "Night Train" and for his gutbucket style. But he could also go into hip postbop mode, as he does on this reissued '59 quintet session. Here his approach is an appealing mix of the abstract and the vulgar, wittily parsing the old warhorse "Caravan," whispering sweet nothings, then building to passionate declarations on "You Go to My Head."

An added attraction on Gin is Grant Green in his first recording date. One of the great jazz guitarists of the '60s, Green was often given short critical shrift because he so frequently worked in the bloozy corner-bar format that dominated pre-fusion commercial jazz. Although his tone would grow plumper over time, his distinctive phrasing and tart sadness are already apparent here. Along with Green's pointillist pith we get pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Gene Ramey, and a rather subdued drummer named Elvin Jones. Very nice.

-- Richard C. Walls