“Night Train” | Stories of Standards

“Night Train” by Jimmy Forrest (recorded in 1951, released in 1952) has an extended and unusual history. Beginning in 1940, perhaps, with alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges (Duke Ellington’s most-featured soloist for more than 40 years), the seminal version seems to have been “That’s the Blues, Old Man”. This later was extended in Duke Ellington’s 1946 release of “Happy Go Lucky Local”, featuring an extended original tenor saxophone solo by Jimmy Forrest. After leaving Ellington’s band, Forrest recorded “Night Train” with essentially the same intro and ending, the same saxophone solo as Ellington’s, and a stop-time rhythm that differs from the earlier versions. Often recorded and used in movies and television, “Night Train” features in novels and is used for the opening and closing theme song of WLRN’s weekly program “Night Train”. James Brown played the drums on his 1961 recording while the drummer was on a break and used it as a show-stopper for the concert film “The TAMI Show”.

 

Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where as a high schooler he played with Eddie Johnson, Fate Marable and the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra before he played for Duke Ellington. Forrest continues to be best-known for “Night Train”. After years with Harry “Sweets” Edison and the Count Basie Orchestra, he co-led a quintet with Al Grey until his death.

 

Tune in to First Take with Lando and Chavis – weekdays from 6-9am MT – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!