Widely regarded as one of the finest jazz albumsever, Moanin’ was the first LP by the third formationof Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, showcasingtrumpeter Lee Morgan, saxophonist Benny Golson,pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt.Morgan (1938-1972) was only 20-years old at thetime the Jazz Messengers recorded Moanin’, andhis recording debut with Blakey had occurred theprevious year. Benny Golson (90 years-old at thiswriting) wrote four of the songs from the album.Bobby Timmons stayed with Blakey from 1958 to1961 and participated on some of the best JazzMessengers recordings, also contributing such hitsof his own as the title track, “Moanin’”. Timmonsdied young due to cirrhosis of the liver in 1974, atage 38. Originally released just with the group’sname on the cover, due to the increasing popularityof the opening track, later editions were titled afterthat song, which became a standard.

ART BLAKEY, drums & leaderLEE MORGAN, trumpetBENNY GOLSON, tenor saxBOBBY TIMMONS, pianoJYMIE MERRITT, bassHackensack, New Jersey, October 30, 1958.Original session recorded by Rudy Van Gelder &produced by Alfred Lion.*BONUS TRACKS:Same personnel. Live at L’Olympia, Paris, France,November 22 (B4) & December 17 (A4), 1958.

• 1. Moanin'
• 2. Are You Real?
• 3. Along Came Betty
• 4. I Remember Clifford
• 5. The Drum Thunder Suite
• 6. Blues March
• 7. Come Rain or Come Shine
• 8. Blues March