Harmonica & Frattoir player, Singer and Songwriter born in 1955, Andy has been playing harmonica and singing professionally since 1977.
He has recorded 7 LPs, 11 cds and two 45s. These recordings feature mostly Forest's original songs. The 2007 released "Real Stories: of Love Labor and Other Man Made Catastrophes" (on Slang Records) won "The Best of The Beat" Award for Best Blues Cd of 2007 in New Orleans, in 2010 he released NOtown Story: The Triumph of Turmoil and in 2012 he made Other rooms, that adds another chapter to his portfolio, which he’s quietly built into one of the most impressive songwriting catalogs in the city and was nominated "Best Blues Album" to Best of the Beat Awards 2012.
One of the most remarkable things about Forest’s career is that he’s adhered faithfully to a blues format yet found ways to grow musically within it. Most blues players describe a very small and very emotionally intense circle and stay within that over the course of their career, but Forest is continually pushing his blues frameworks into funk, traditional R&B and swing directions to accommodate his extensive lyrical wordplay. Forest has matured as both a vocalist and harp player over the years, scaling back some of his wilder eccentricities as he plays with the melodic content of his songs.
The first harmonica lessons came from hearing live performances by SonnyTerry, Walter Horton, Charlie Musselwhite, and Rod Piazza in the Los Angeles area as a teenager.
The legendary George "Harmonica" Smith gave the young man pointers in the parking lot of the Ash Grove in Hollywood. But he really started playing in New Orleans in the early 70's, jamming with James Booker, Earl King, John Mooney, Antoine Dominoe, Billy Gregory (of Professor Longhair's band) and other local musicians who went on to form the Radiators and the Subdudes.
He began his professional career at age 22 demonstrating a unique and personal style from the beginning.
Live performances, mostly in festivals gave him the opportunity to open up for B. B. King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Canned Heat, Magic Slim, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy & Jr. Wells, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, J. Geils & Magic Dick, Terrance Simieon, Otis Grand, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Johnny Copeland, Roy Rogers, John Hammond, Melvin Taylor, Duke Robillard and Johnny Winter.
On some of these occasions Andy was invited to play with his heroes. In 1989 B. B. King let him play with him during a jam session with Bobby "Blue" Bland, Joan Baez (!) and Luther Allison at the Montreux Jazz Festival. That same summer B. B. invited Forest to join him in a jam with Jeff Healy on stage at the Pistoia Blues Festival in Italy. Champion Jack Dupree asked Andy and his band to back him up for an entire set. He also played a set with the Otis Rush Band which was televised on national Italian TV (RAI).
After living in Europe for ten years he returned to his home New Orleans in 1991 where he plays in clubs yet frequently goes on tour in Europe and Canada.
He has played on stage with other illustrious artists like Taj Mahal, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Matt Murphy, James Cotton, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Jimmy Johnson, Sugar Blue, Willy DeVille, Louis Meyers, Johnny Heartsman, Bernard Allison, The Memphis Horns, Johnny Shines and John "Juke" Logan.
He has played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival a half dozen times since 1983, King Biscuit Festival, Trois Rivieres and the Ottawa Blues Festival several times, The Montreux Jazz Festival in 1989, Cognac Blues Passions, Antwerpe Parkblues Festival, Amsterdam Blues Festival, Tamines, Beermem Blues Festival, More Blues Festival, Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival, Lokerse Feesten, Pistoia, San Remo, Nantes-Rendezvous dans l'Erdre, Lugano Blues to Bop '94, '96 & 2000, Sherbrooke Blues Festival, Windsor International Festival, Montremblant and many others in France, Italy and Canada.
A Prolific song writer, Forest has penned over 100 tunes, mostly blues and New Orleans style.
He has written scores of songs, one novel Letter From Hell and paints “outside” art, (see pics) mostly of blues and jazz singers. Some of them are hanging around New Orleans in La Belle Gallerie, 309 Chartres St. and @ Louisiana Music Factory-210 Decatur St.
After the popular and criticle success of Sunday Rhumba (2001) and Deep Down Under (in the Bywater) (2003) recorded for Appaloosa Record and produced by Anders Osborne he featured Real Stories (2006) with his italian band, NOtown Story: The Triumph of Turmoil (2010) and the new cd Other Rooms (2012).
Check out Andy's harmonica playing with the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio on the sound track for the Werner Herzog film "The Bad Lieutenant" starring Nicolas Cage and Val Kilmer. On tour in Europe the Andy J Forest Band members are Heggy Vezzano Guitar, Luca Tonani Bass and Pablo Leoni drums. In New Orleans: Jack Cole guitar, David Hyde bass and Allyn Robinson on drums. In Canada Andy plays with Tony D. and most recently the multi award winning band Monkey Junk.
Talking about him
Blues Revue called his "wordplay Berryesque" and rated the CD "Bluesness as Usual" an "UN-usually strong album".
Of the book Letter from hell "Sounds and reads like good blues to me" - "agile imagination".
Off Beat magazine columnist John Swenson recently wrote of a live performance "..causing such mayhem that Forest pushes the party limits until he's body surfing across the dance floor on his frattoir".
In a review of Forest's CD "Blue Orleans" stated "The songs present an uncompromising look at the life of a traveling musician... Also Forest proves his versatility by tackling themes like insanity and growing old. His understated delivery has a poignancy which comes from the heart". "One of the best harp players in New Orleans"
Michael Cote of Blues Revue wrote of Sunday Rhumba: "...eclectic sesibility" - "featuring fine harp and barbed lyrics.." "...the best example of Forest's storytelling, a sample of the hard-edged writing found in his novel Letter From Hell."
Gambit Weekly in New Orleans hailed Forest as "One of the scene's more experienced and vital practitioners".
Christina Dittenger called Andy's songs "bluesy musings on everyday occurances from the frustration of losing one shoe to the state of mankind".
OBScene, Ottawa's blues periodical printed, "Andy performs harp magic...every number was truly entertaining... his original tune "Motel Blue Orleans" is the epitome of the blues".
Living Blues gave him a "solid harp player" vote and of his songwriting reported, "...from soulful instrumentals to raunchy (lyrics).."
Blues Access "a fine series of intriguing albums...original compositions, lusty singing and virtuouso harp". "...hot harmonica" "... distinctly out of the ordinary".
official website:
http://www.myspace.com/andyjforestbandLine-up:
Andy J.FOREST (USA) - Harp, Frattoir, vocals
Heggy VEZZANO (I) - Guitars
Luca TONANI (I) - Bass
Pablo LEONI (I) - Drums, Percussions
